B.C.’s New Chief Coroner Aims for Data-Driven Approach to Overdose Crisis

As British Columbia continues to battle a devastating overdose crisis that has claimed more than 16,000 lives, the province’s new chief coroner, Dr. Jatinder (Taj) Baidwan, is taking a different approach to the public health emergency—one that prioritizes data-driven analysis over political advocacy.

Unlike his predecessor, Lisa Lapointe, who was a vocal advocate for decriminalization and a safer drug supply, Baidwan says his role is to focus on facts rather than push specific policy agendas.

"As the chief coroner, it's my responsibility not to advocate for any particular group, but to advocate for all British Columbians … for those who have died," Baidwan said in an interview.

His goal? To get all sides of the debate—harm reduction advocates and abstinence-based treatment supporters—to the table for meaningful discussions.

Bridging the Divide in Drug Policy

Baidwan, who started his five-year term in August 2024, acknowledges that the toxic drug crisis has become deeply polarized. He wants his office to focus on deeper trend analysis rather than monthly overdose death reports, which he fears the public has become desensitized to.

"I do worry that flooding the media with information sometimes isn't the best way of doing it," he said. "Any death—one death from this scourge—is one death too many."

To improve data collection, Baidwan is strengthening partnerships with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), bringing in public health researchers and data analysts to enhance overdose trend analysis.

A Shift from Lapointe’s Advocacy

Baidwan’s approach contrasts sharply with that of Lisa Lapointe, who led the coroner’s office for 13 years and was an outspoken proponent of drug decriminalization and a non-prescription safer supply.

While Lapointe pushed for expanded access to regulated opioids, the B.C. government has since reversed course. Premier David Eby rolled back decriminalization in April 2024, and Health Minister Josie Osborne announced stricter rules requiring supervised opioid use at pharmacies.

Lapointe retired in February 2025, frustrated by the political resistance to her harm reduction recommendations. She left office angry at what she called the "lackadaisical" response to the crisis.

Baidwan, in contrast, is letting the data speak for itself, saying he will present facts to decision-makers without pushing for specific policies.

Concerns Over Low Autopsy Rates

Beyond the overdose crisis, Baidwan is also addressing concerns about B.C.’s declining autopsy rates, which have dropped from 22% in 1991 to just 3.2% in 2022, according to Statistics Canada.

Some families have criticized the coroner’s reluctance to perform autopsies, including Greg Sword, who lost his 14-year-old daughter, Kamilah, to an overdose in 2022. Sword believes an autopsy could have provided more clarity on the role of safer supply opioids in her death.

Baidwan says autopsies aren’t always necessary to determine a cause of death, emphasizing that many answers can be found through toxicology tests.

"In the world of CSI, we think an autopsy will give us all the answers. Sadly, it doesn't," he explained.

He also argues that B.C.’s low autopsy rates may be misleading, as they don’t account for post-mortem examinations done in hospitals, which make up about 10% of deaths.

Call for More Coroners to Manage Rising Deaths

Baidwan is advocating for more coroners to be hired, citing B.C.’s aging and growing population as a reason for the increased number of deaths each year.

"We've continually hired more coroners over the last few years. And the government has been supportive in allowing us to hire the right number of people," he said.

By expanding the workforce and improving data analysis, Baidwan hopes his office can provide answers to grieving families faster—while also playing a critical role in shaping evidence-based responses to B.C.’s overdose crisis.