Ethan's Law - Make A Change

Born on November 21st, 2011 over 9lbs and healthy, Ethan James was a joy but on January 4th, 2012, Ethan was rushed by ambulance to Valley Hospital, Nova Scotia, in full cardiac arrest, he was later transfered to The IWK in Halifax. Ethan struggled for 15 days to live, he gave up his fight at 7:41 pm on January 19th, 2012 just two days shy of his 2 Month Birthday.

Charges were laid on January 13th, 2012 against his mother, Candace Dawn Chetwynd and her boyfriend Shawn Michael MacIsaac for aggravated assault and failure to provide the necessities of life, this was while Ethan was still struggling to live. All the while Candace Chetwynd was allowed to sit beside his bed, along with her mother April Chetwynd. Yet, Ethan's own Father, Alexander Haggett was not allowed to even get an update on his son's condition.

From what we have been told, poor Ethan had an IVH (Interventricular Hemmorage) which in 99% of cases is caused by shaken baby, a broken collarbone and also two cracked ribs.

This dear little boy suffered at only 2 months old, Ethan did not deserve this and the worst part of this whole situation is that in the past 3 years, Children's Services in Nova Scotia were called in numerous times to Candace's home and told that she was being abusive to her other children, ages 4 and 19 months. Her own mother admitted that she was mentally unstable and not able to care for a child. Yet Children's Services did nothing to protect those children. The charges on these people have been withdrawn and more serious charges are pending the results of Ethan's autopsy.

When are we going to start holding these government agencies responsible for their non-action in these cases?

Charges against a Waterville man and a Port Hastings woman relating to the death of a Waterville baby have been withdrawn.

Shawn Michael MacIsaac, 26, and Candace Dawn Chetwynd, 21, were both charged with aggravated assault. Chetwynd was charged with, being the parent of a child under age 16, endangering the life of the child by failing to provide the necessities of life. MacIsaac was charged with endangering the child’s life by failing to provide the necessities of life to an underage person in his care. The charges were laid Jan. 13.

The Crown withdrew all charges in Kentville Provincial Court Jan. 30. The accused were not present.

Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service spokeswoman Chris Hansen said the original charges have been withdrawn and the matter is now back in the hands of police.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s an ongoing police investigation,” she said.

RCMP Insp. Mike Payne confirmed the investigation is ongoing and police are awaiting autopsy results.

A Jan. 20 RCMP news release said an autopsy was taking place. The RCMP South West Nova Major Crime Unit, Kings District RCMP and the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office were involved in the investigation.

They stated in another press release that the reason they did this is because if they went to court on February 13th, 2012 and plead guilty to the prior charges listed above now that Ethan has died, then they would not be able by Canada's law, charge them with a more serious offence, like murder or manslaughter.