Three bodies given to wrong families for burial in Manitoba: Shared Health

August 16, 2024 Canuck

Three bodies were released to the wrong families for burial in Manitoba, according to Shared Health.

“I am devastated to share our recent discovery,” Lanette Siragusa, the CEO of Shared Health, told reporters Friday.

She said a body in the care of Shared Health for an autopsy was released to the incorrect family, who then held a funeral and burial – only to be told they buried the wrong body.

“This is a tragic and extremely painful error and we are so sorry for the hurt and the harm that it has caused,” Siragusa said. “Shared Health accepts full responsibility for this error.”

She said the body was received at the Health Sciences Centre on July 13 for an autopsy. It was then released to the family later that month, but it wasn’t until Aug. 7 that Shared Health discovered the wrong body had been sent to the family.

“It is our job to provide dignity and respect and compassion to all those who come into our care as well as to their loved ones – and in this instance, we failed,” she said. “For that, I offer my sincere apologies to the family and community members.”

Siragusa said by the time Shared Health had contacted the family, they had already held a funeral and burial. She said it has left the family shocked and upset.

“It adds a layer of grief to them,” she said, adding Shared Health is working to get the family the proper remains of their loved one and will be paying for the new funeral.

Two other bodies released to the wrong funeral homes: Shared Health

Siragusa said this is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, she said Shared Health has become aware of what she described as two other, ‘near misses.’

“In both instances, the bodies were incorrectly signed out of our facilities and transported to a funeral home,” she said, adding the errors were identified and the bodies returned prior to burial.

“Like any member of the public, I am appalled, I am outraged, I am heartbroken – not only that this type of error could occur, but that it could be repeated.”

Three cases being investigated as critical occurrences

Siragusa said all three instances are being investigated as critical occurrences.

“Early results of our investigation have identified some concerning gaps in the processes that exist to prevent this type of occurrence,” she said.

Since these incidents, Siragusa said the number of people with access to HSC’s morgue has been reduced to two people, and out of caution Shared Health is doing a retrospective audit on the last month of records.

She said a thorough investigation is underway and the results will be shared publicly.

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