Inquiry to probe pathologist's work: Ontario premier

The Ontario government will hold an inquiry into the work of controversial pathologist Dr. Charles Smith that will be made public, said Premier Dalton McGuinty.

"We're going to have an inquiry. It is going to be public. What the parameters are I'm not exactly sure yet," said McGuinty.

The announcement came a day after Ontario's chief coroner released findings of an 18-month review of autopsies conducted by Smith between 1991 and 2002.

Concerns were raised about 20 of the 45 child autopsies conducted, said Coroner Barry McLellan. Thirteen of those resulted in criminal convictions, with one person still behind bars.

The inquiry, however, will not be an official public inquiry, as defined by Ontario's Public Inquiries Act, according to the premier's office.

Under a full public inquiry, a commission has the power to summon witnesses and demand evidence.

Details about the scope of the inquiry and when it will be held have yet to be released.