The BC Coroners Service told the Richmond News today that the statement it made last week regarding a Richmond mother’s maternal death was a mistake and that the Service is currently continuing to investigate the death.
“I was mistaken last week when I wrote to you about the Richmond mom – learned today that we are in fact investigating the death of a Richmond mother who died giving birth to twins in April,” wrote Andy Watson, spokesperson of the BC Coroners Service, to the News.
“This is a reportable death to investigate…as the death occurred ‘during pregnancy, or following pregnancy in circumstances that might reasonably be attributable to the pregnancy.’”
Last week, Watson "mistakenly" announced that the BC Coroners Service had completed the investigation and determined it was not reportable because “natural deaths are not reportable.”
Watson added at that time that he could not comment on the specifics of the investigation due to privacy restrictions.
Wei Liu, a Richmond resident, suffered major bleeding while in labour and passed away after delivery early on the morning of April 8, leaving behind her husband, Victor Yu, a five-year-old son and twin daughters.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) also conducted an investigation into the fatality because “maternal death in childbirth is rare, especially in pregnancies that have progressed normally,” according to a VCH spokesperson at the time.
VCH told the News last week that it had completed its “critical incident review” but that the findings cannot be disclosed “by law, and we still can’t discuss specifics of the case due to privacy reasons.”
“At this time, we can’t provide any more information than what we already have in previous statements: that at one point, 35 staff members, including anesthesiology, obstetrical specialists, ICU physicians, and vascular surgeons were working together to try to save the woman’s life,” wrote Matt Kieltyka, public affairs specialist of VCH, in an email.
“Vancouver Coastal Health offers our sincere condolences to the family for their loss.”
David Shao, a friend of Yu, said the widowed father has received a medical record from VCH, but does not want to comment on it at this point, adding Yu is now waiting for the final coroner’s report.
Liu’s funeral took place on Saturday and the two twins were moved home from BC Children’s Hospital Monday afternoon.
