A B.C. couple waited weeks to get their stillborn daughter’s remains. Then, they were invoiced for her autopsy
Nick Bordignon was still deep in grief over the death of his infant daughter last October when he received an envelope from the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) in his mailbox. The envelope was addressed to the infant, Makayla Poppy, who was delivered at B.C. Children’s Hospital four weeks earlier after an ultrasound revealed that the child was no longer alive.
Inside the envelope was an invoice for the cost of an autopsy, along with an itemized list of tests conducted by a coroner. The PHSA later admitted that the Bordignons were never supposed to receive this bill. To make matters worse, the letter seemed to indicate that Makayla’s body was still in the morgue, two weeks after the autopsy was performed and nearly a month after she was stillborn.
Nick Bordignon, a police officer, expressed his disbelief and rage upon receiving the invoice. He described the experience as soul-crushing and wrong. The Bordignons felt that losing Makayla was already insurmountable, and the additional distress caused by the invoice and delay in receiving her remains only added to their pain.
The issue is now under investigation by B.C.’s Patient Care Quality Review Board, tasked with reviewing complaints about health authority policies and procedures. Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, highlighted the lack of standardized care for stillbirths, leading to errors that further traumatize grieving families.
The Bordignons’ experience is not unique, as other B.C. families have faced delays in receiving their baby’s body after a birth or stillbirth. Dr. Murphy-Kaulbeck emphasized the need for a more robust system to prevent stillbirths and support families in their grief.
In a statement, Ruth Appanah, executive director of B.C. Women’s and B.C. Children’s hospitals, offered a sincere apology to the Bordignons and other families affected. The hospitals are taking action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Bordignons planted a garden with poppies in memory of Makayla and received her ashes in a heart-shaped purple urn with a silver butterfly. Despite their loss, they cherish the seven beautiful months they had with Makayla and hope for more support for families facing stillbirths in the future.
