Coroner’s inquest set for BC woman Florence Girard

The BC Coroners Service will hold an inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome who starved to death in 2018.

Girard died at her caregiver’s home in Port Coquitlam, BC, from malnutrition or starvation after years of missed medical appointments.

In 2022, Girard’s caregiver, Astrid Dahl, 54, was convicted of failure to provide life support and sentenced by the BC Supreme Court to one year probation, one year probation and 100 hours of work for the benefit of the community.

Beginning Monday, Jan. 13, in Burnaby Coroner’s Court, presiding Coroner Donita Kuzma and a jury will hear testimony from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding Girard’s death.

The jury will be able to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths in similar circumstances, but cannot make any finding of legal liability or express any conclusion of law.

The inquest was conducted under sections of the Coroners Act relating to public interest and deaths resulting from dangerous practices or circumstances.

Open to the public, the live stream can be viewed online on the BC Government website.

A coroner’s inquest is a public inquiry that serves to establish the facts of a death – including the identity of the person and how, when, where and by what means they died – and to make recommendations to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.

Coroners’ inquests are also designed to assure the public that the circumstances surrounding the death will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored, the BC Coroners Service says.