Two years following her father’s passing in 2022, Amanda Large faced distressing news: her father’s brain, removed during an autopsy, had not been returned along with his body but was instead left in a hospital refrigerator in Victoria, B.C. for years until its discovery in 2024 during a cleaning routine.
Large expressed the emotional toll of reliving the traumatic experience and the added burden of unanswered questions, stating, “There’s a lot that goes on when someone passes away, and having to relive all of that but having it be much more traumatic was really hard.” She emphasized the preventable nature of the situation and her uncertainty about the healing process.
The deceased, Philip Peter Billy, a 55-year-old from the Ehattesaht First Nation, was not laid to rest promptly, as tradition dictates, due to the mishandling of his remains. Large and her family have initiated legal action against Island Health and the B.C. Coroner’s Service, seeking justice and accountability for the distress caused by the mishap.
The health authorities, along with the B.C. Public Safety Minister, have refrained from commenting on the matter due to the ongoing legal proceedings. Large, fearing a recurrence of such incidents, highlighted the need for changes to prevent similar occurrences within the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations community.
The misplacement of body parts following autopsies has previously affected families, such as in the case of Margaret Thomas from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in 1997. The mishandling of her remains underscored the need for policy reforms and cultural protocols to address such distressing situations within Indigenous communities.
Large, reflecting on her father’s life and the challenges he faced, emphasized the impact of systemic issues, including a previous traumatic incident involving law enforcement. The delayed reunification of her father’s brain with his body, the insensitivity displayed during the notification process, and the subsequent emotional toll have prompted calls for reform and accountability from the involved institutions.
Stronger regulations, improved communication, and transparent processes for handling human remains are among the demands put forth by Large, supported by community leaders and officials. The ongoing legal proceedings are expected to set a precedent in addressing negligence and medical malpractice, while efforts are being made to honor Billy’s memory through a proper ceremonial scattering of his ashes.
The incident has elicited concerns about systemic racism in medical institutions and the need for cultural sensitivity in handling deceased individuals within Indigenous communities. As Large and her family navigate the healing process and seek closure, they emphasize the importance of acknowledging past mistakes and implementing safeguards to prevent similar mishaps in the future.