The family of Teresa Ann Scheunert says the Yukon's inquest process is unfair.

A coroner's inquest is scheduled for June into the deaths of Scheunert and Mary Johnny.

Both women died in the summer of 2012 after having received treatment at the Watson Lake hospital.

Wanda Zimmerman, Scheunert's sister, and Crystal Thomas, her daughter, outlined their concerns in a release sent to media Sunday.

They say the families are heading into this inquest at a legal and financial disadvantage compared to both the Watson Lake doctors involved and the Yukon Hospital Corp., who have legal representation.

The family notes they are also responsible for covering the costs of two weeks in Whitehorse, lost income from time off work, and childcare costs, while expert witnesses have expenses covered.

"This is not a balanced process for those of us who have lost our loved ones. We the family of Teresa Ann Schuenert have no legal representation or any assistance whatsoever so that we may be empowered to fully participate in the upcoming June inquest,” they write, expressing their frustration with the system.

They note they have not been contacted by the new presiding coroner since he was named.

As well, the family was only informed pre-inquest meetings were to take place this week after they specifically inquired.

The Yukon's chief coroner, Kirsten Macdonald, announced March 11 that B.C. coroner Norman Leibel will preside over the inquest after concerns were raised about Macdonald's ability to independently lead the proceedings.

In the release, Zimmerman and Thomas highlight important questions they need answered before the inquest begins.

They want to know what evidence has been accepted, what evidence they as the family can bring forward, what expert witnesses have been called forward to participate, and whether they too can call forward expert witnesses.

"Finding out what really happened and asking tough questions that need to be answered is our way of honouring and understanding the death of our loved one,” the two women write.

"It is the only way to prevent similar tragedies in the future. We are serving the public good.”

Jan Stick, the NDP's Health and Social Services critic, has been a staunch advocate for the Scheunert family, and repeatedly raised the issue in the legislature during the fall 2013 sitting.

Today, she said she thinks their concerns are "totally legitimate.

"It's concerning to me that the family, after all they've gone through, are still not being included in this process and have not even received communication from the new appointed coroner.

"As they state in their note, it is in the public interest that we find out what happened,” Stick said.

"And families have a key role,” she said.

Stick said she'd like to see Leibel contact the family members and address their questions about evidence and witnesses.

She said she's not concerned at this point about what will happen at the inquest in June.

Rather, the MLA's concern is how and what support is provided to the families during preparations.

"This is about public safety and public interest,” Stick said.

"This is the public good. I don't think we want to hinder that; I think we want to help it,” she said.

The Star could not reach Leibel for comment before this afternoon's press deadline.

Scheunert was 47 when she died on June 21, 2012 at the Watson Lake hospital.

Three possible causes of her death have been released since that time.

Initially, her family was told she died of a heart attack.

An autopsy later revealed she more likely succumbed to a deadly cocktail of prescribed medications.

A patient safety review ordered by the hospital corporation suggested she died from an irregular heartbeat associated with sleep apnea.

Johnny was 60 when she died of a bowel obstruction on Aug. 9, 2012.

She spent six days at the Watson Lake hospital before being transferred to Whitehorse General Hospital.

Macdonald's report into her death noted the initial diagnosis was "alcoholism” – despite abnormal vital signs and persistent complaints of lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting which smelled of stool.

It was only after three days in hospital that Johnny's abdominal pain was investigated and x-rays were ordered.

"Even then, the finding of dilated loops of small bowel did not result in further investigation or intervention,” the coroner's report reads.

Johnny arrived at the Whitehorse hospital suffering from shock and organ failure.

A CT confirmed she'd been suffering from a bowel obstruction.