B.C. health authority denies lawsuit claim that racism played a part in baby's death

Health officials in northern British Columbia deny allegations they mismanaged the treatment of a pregnant Indigenous woman or used racial stereotypes that affected her care and led to the stillbirth of her daughter.

Northern Health, Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace and Kitimat General Hospital dispute allegations in a civil lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court last month by Sarah Morrison and her partner Ronald Luft, alleging negligence and "deliberate racial indifference."

In its response, the health authority says Morrison was past her due date and in the early stages of labour when she arrived at Kitimat's hospital, which the health authority says is not equipped to handle complicated deliveries.

The statement says Luft "began yelling," alleged Morrison was being refused service and then left the hospital with her when a doctor said an assessment was needed to see if the delivery could be done in Terrace.

The couple arrived at Terrace hospital later that night but doctors could not find a heartbeat, the infant girl was stillborn and the statement of defence says nothing medical staff at either hospital "did or failed to do caused or contributed to the fetal demise."

None of the allegations or statements have been proven in court and statements from five doctors named in the lawsuit have not yet been filed.