Urgent Review: Coroners’ Remote Attendance Sparks Outrage in BC

UPDATE: A shocking revelation has emerged regarding the BC Coroners Service’s practice of attending death scenes remotely, prompting urgent calls for review. British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety confirmed it was unaware that this practice continued post-2019, raising serious concerns about public safety and oversight.

Ministry spokeswoman Tasha Schollen stated, “We believed that in-person scene attendance had been restored six years ago,” and emphasized that the ministry is currently discussing this troubling situation with the service. The revelation comes in the wake of a former coroner’s alarming claims that two bodies were overlooked at the scene of a Vancouver death in February 2022.

Former community coroner Sonya Schulz revealed that cost-saving measures had led to the decision to allow coroners to conduct investigations remotely. She noted that this practice could have dire consequences, as evidenced by the case of Jimmy Van Chung Pham. His body was discovered in a small apartment, but the remains of missing Indigenous teenager Noelle O’Soup and another woman, Elma Enan, went unnoticed for months. Residents only alerted authorities after complaints about a foul odor.

This situation has been labeled a “tragic incident” by the ministry, which is now in contact with the BC Coroners Service regarding these disturbing allegations. The failure to attend scenes in person raises critical questions about the effectiveness of remote investigations. A ruling from a delegate of British Columbia’s director of employment standards highlighted that when a field coroner is unavailable, investigations are often conducted remotely, which could risk missing vital evidence.

The community is demanding accountability and change. Advocates argue that the safety of the public is at stake when coroners do not physically attend death scenes. As details continue to unfold, the ministry’s next steps in addressing these concerns are eagerly awaited.

For those affected by these tragic events, the implications are profound, emphasizing the need for reform in the BC Coroners Service’s protocols. The public is urged to share their opinions and concerns via email to [email protected]

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as officials work to rectify the situation and restore trust in public safety measures.