The Yukon's coroner has offered few details regarding her decision to write a second report about the death of Teresa Ann Scheunert at the Watson Lake hospital last summer.

Scheunert died of mixed-drug toxicity on June 21, 2012.

At a Tuesday morning news conference, Scheunert's family publicized the original report, which was retracted fewer than five hours after it was released to them on June 14, 2013.

The second report was released roughly a month later, on July 9, 2013.

Kirsten Macdonald, the territory's chief coroner, offered only a limited explanation for her decision to re-do her report.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Macdonald noted that "new facts regarding this investigation came to light after the report had been written.”

The new information regarded whether or not Scheunert had self-medicated using prescriptions filled in the days before her death, she said.

The first report notes that Scheunert "self-administered these medications” and that the hospital did not follow its "Patients Own Medications” policy.

The first report's toxicology findings note oxycodone was found in Scheunert's post-mortem blood.

However, charting from the hospital did not include any mention of any administration of oxycodone since June 7, 2012 – two weeks before her death.

"The only way that oxycodone could have been detected is if Ms. Scheunert were self-medicating using the prescribed oxycodone (oxyneo) that were prescribed to her on June 14, 2012 and June 18, 2012,” the first report states.

The second report notes the last dose of oxycodone was administered on June 17, not June 7. While it was still a few days before her death, toxicological analysis couldn't determine that postmortem levels were not related to that dose, the report notes.

Macdonald made two recommendations in the first report stemming from the understanding that Scheunert may have self-administered medication.

First that the "Patients Own Medications” policy should be followed consistently at all Yukon hospitals, and second that any time a patient is permitted under this policy to self-administer documentation should be made in the patient records regarding when, what and how much was taken. Macdonald also notes the patients should be supervised.

There's no mention in the second report of Scheunert possibly self-medicating, nor of the "Patients Own Medications” policy.

Macdonald would not explain how this new information came to light when asked during an interview today.

The two reports are also separated by a difference in language.

For instance, both reports mention an increase in fentanyl, one of the medications Scheunert was administered, ordered on June 20, 2012.

In the first report Macdonald writes, "on review of the notes, there was a lack of documentation regarding the calculations for the increased dose of fentanyl.”

In the second report, she instead writes "there appears to be a lack of clear documentation regarding the calculations for the increased dose of fentanyl.”

When asked today about the softening of the language used in the second report, Macdonald would only say, "I've put my statement out, the judgment stands, and that's all I have to say.”

Scheunert's family, her two daughters and her sister, decided to release the original report Tuesday in another attempt to get answers about the two reports, and why their mother didn't receive the care she needed.

Crystal Thomas, Scheunert's eldest daughter, noted Tuesday during the press conference held by the NDP that her mother waited 12 weeks for a treatment plan for her back pain, an unreasonable time for an MRI.

Scheunert had sold property in an attempt to make her own way down south to get the scans she needed, Thomas explained.

Jan Stick, the NDP's Health and Social Services critic, noted the family has been let down by the same system that let down their mother and sister in their search for answers.

"We are asking for accountability from this government and from the Yukon Hospital Corporation,” Stick noted.

"We have a responsibility to acknowledge when the system fails and to fix identified gaps.”

Both Stick and NDP Leader Liz Hanson queried Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham on the issue during question period Tuesday.

Graham explained that he had no prior knowledge of the original coroner's report as it was received by the hospital corporation and is not required to be sent to him.

"There are processes in place, be it with the Yukon Medical Council, be it with the Yukon Registered Nurses Association or through an appeal process.

"There are processes in place to address the concerns of the family throughout this unfortunate circumstance and I think those processes should be used,” the minister noted in response to questions regarding whether he thought Scheunert's patient rights were respected throughout her care in Watson Lake.

Scheunert's family said Tuesday they're seeking a public inquiry into the circumstances behind her death.