Inquest into B.C. woman’s starvation death recommends better pay for front-line caregivers

The recent coroner’s inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome, has concluded with a unanimous verdict classifying her death as homicide due to starvation. Homicide, in this context, is a neutral term that does not imply criminal intent but rather indicates a human-caused death.

In addition to the verdict, the five-person jury has put forth 13 recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. These recommendations include advocating for better pay for front-line caregivers, implementing unannounced visits to homes where vulnerable clients are placed, and providing support for family members who wish to care for their vulnerable loved ones at home.

Girard, who weighed a mere 50 pounds at the time of her passing in 2018, was under the care of Astrid Dahl, a caregiver funded by Community Living B.C. (CLBC), a provincial Crown corporation. The jury foreman emphasized the need for home-share providers to receive a living wage that reflects the complexity of care required beyond basic necessities.

Girard’s sister, Sharon Bursey, expressed a mix of emotions upon hearing the verdict but found solace in the jury’s recommendations. She condemned the inadequate funding and called for accountability from government officials to address the systemic issues at play.

Tamara Taggart, president of Down Syndrome B.C., echoed these sentiments, highlighting the systemic failures and indifference towards individuals with developmental disabilities in the province. She emphasized the need for CLBC to heed the jury’s recommendations to ensure that Girard’s death was not in vain.

In response to the findings, Ross Chilton, CEO of CLBC, issued a heartfelt apology, acknowledging the system’s failure in providing the necessary support to Florence Girard. He expressed regret for the shortcomings that led to this tragedy and vowed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The caregiver, Astrid Dahl, was found guilty of failing to provide the necessities of life to Girard and was sentenced to 15 months in prison following an appeal. The charges against Kinsight Community Society, the agency under contract by CLBC, were stayed.

Coroner’s inquests like this serve as a platform to review the circumstances of a death publicly and raise awareness of preventable deaths. The jury’s role is not to assign blame but to issue recommendations that aim to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The tragic death of Florence Girard underscores the need for systemic changes to better support individuals with developmental disabilities and ensure their well-being and safety. It is imperative that the recommendations put forth by the jury are implemented to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from happening again.