---
title: "B.C. lab ordered to pay $32,000 for patient discrimination"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32000-for-patient-discrimination"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32000-for-patient-discrimination"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32000-for-patient-discrimination.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32000-for-patient-discrimination"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-11-09T11:45:32.176Z"
source_reported: "2026-11-09T09:06:49.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-09T12:00:23.679Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 60
hype_score: 20
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-11-09T12:26:03.151Z"
---

# B.C. lab ordered to pay $32,000 for patient discrimination

*Human rights tribunal finds LifeLabs and subsidiary discriminated against transgender and non-binary patients.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report; 31 others provided digests, corroborating the central claim.
- Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The full report clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific details about the tribunal's findings.
- Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used in the headlines and digests is factual and avoids sensationalism.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies must pay $32,000 in damages following a British Columbia human rights tribunal ruling.
- The tribunal found the companies discriminated against three transgender and non-binary patients in 2019.
- Discrimination included misgendering, outing patients, and preventing updates to medical records.
- The ruling requires LifeLabs to update policies and staff training on gender identity.

British Columbia's human rights tribunal has ordered a private laboratory provider to pay $32,000 in damages for discriminating against transgender and non-binary patients. The tribunal found LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies engaged in discrimination in 2019 at clinics in Vancouver and Burnaby.

The discrimination involved misgendering and outing three patients. One non-binary individual was told they had to select either male or female for services and was outed in a public space. A transgender patient could not update their gender marker on medical records, and another opted out of cancer screening to avoid being misgendered.

Tribunal member Theressa Etmanski stated that while information about a patient's sex may be medically relevant, there was no evidence to support that the standard practice was medically necessary or justified. LifeLabs has been ordered to update its policies and staff training regarding gender identity and to provide private spaces for patients to discuss their identity.

## Coverage comparison

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the specific locations of the clinics where the discrimination occurred, Vancouver and Burnaby. The full report from City News, however, did include these details.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 38 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 68% (26)
- Centre: 27% (10)
- Right: 5% (2)

2 of 40 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-09T12:26:03.151Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-09T12:45:09.771Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Nineteen left-rated reports led with the human rights tribunal's order for LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies to pay $32,000 in damages. These reports detailed the discrimination against transgender and non-binary patients, including misgendering and outing individuals. They noted that one non-binary person was told to choose between male or female for services and was outed in a public space. The reports also mentioned a transgender patient's inability to update their gender marker and another's decision to forgo cancer screening to avoid misgendering. The requirement for LifeLabs to update policies and staff training on gender identity was also highlighted.

### Centre

- Eight centre-rated reports focused on the $32,000 damages ordered by the British Columbia human rights tribunal against LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies for discriminating against transgender and non-binary patients. These reports stated that the discrimination occurred in 2019 and included misgendering and outing three patients. The specific instances mentioned were a non-binary person being asked to choose a gender for services and being outed publicly, a transgender patient being unable to update their gender marker, and another opting out of cancer screening due to misgendering.

### Right

- Both Rebel News and The Epoch Times reported that the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ordered LifeLabs to pay a total of $32,000 to three patients. Each digest led on the monetary figure and the tribunal’s decision, establishing the core outcome of the case.
- Rebel News’ digest described the tribunal as “woke”, noted that the “sex” box on health cards cannot reliably document physiology, and said two of the three trans‑identifying individuals won because the lab relied on the sex listed on their government ID rather than their self‑identification. No direct statements from the tribunal or LifeLabs were included.
- The Epoch Times’ digest used the phrase “misgendering three patients” and included a photo of the tribunal’s Vancouver office, but it did not explain the tribunal’s reasoning beyond the misgendering claim, nor did it quote any party. Neither digest provided a response from LifeLabs or identified the patients by name.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 1
- high: 23
- unknown: 2
- veryHigh: 14

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [National Observer](https://nationalobserver.com/2026/11/09/news/bc-lab-ordered-pay-32k-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [CP24](https://cp24.com/news/canada/2026/11/09/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients/article_2a91aba9-4ef5-5198-b13d-fb7d5c7fda45.html) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Coast Reporter](https://coastreporter.net/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994784) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Midland Today](https://midlandtoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Newmarket Today](https://newmarkettoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Guelph Today](https://guelphtoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [CambridgeToday.ca](https://cambridgetoday.ca/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [burlingtontoday.com](https://burlingtontoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [flamboroughtoday.com](https://flamboroughtoday.com/national-news/bc-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-12994774) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [nanaimonewsnow.com](https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients-2) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [The Lethbridge Herald](https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Narcity](https://narcity.com/vancouver/b-c-lab-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/11/08/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/11/08/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/canada/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients/article_bd0cb4b9-6325-5d64-89cf-685d9cd5fe8c.html) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/canada/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients/article_84bfa4ea-478a-58cd-8ec3-c1a2ab7c7484.html) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/canada/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients/article_59e55729-86b2-504e-aaae-75cb6869ea36.html) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/2026/11/09/b-c-lab-ordered-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-transgender-non-binary-patients) — B.C. lab ordered to pay $32K for misgendering transgender, non-binary patients
- [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/world/lifelabs-ordered-by-bc-tribunal-to-pay-32k-for-misgendering-three-patients-6122206) — LifeLabs Ordered by BC Tribunal to Pay $32K for Misgendering Three Patients
- [canadianinquirer.net](https://canadianinquirer.net/2026/11/08/lifelabs-ordered-to-pay-32000-after-b-c-tribunal-finds-discrimination-against-transgender-patients) — LifeLabs ordered to pay $32,000 after B.C. tribunal finds discrimination against transgender patients
- [gayety.com](https://gayety.com/lifelabs-bc-human-rights-tribunal-misgendering-transgender-patients) — LifeLabs Misgendering Ruling: $32,000 for Trans Patients
- [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lifelabs-human-rights-tribunal-bc-9.7412649) — LifeLabs in B.C. ordered to pay $32K for misgendering, outing patients: Human Rights Tribunal
- [Rebel News](http://rebelnews.com/trans_identifying_trio_wins_32k_from_lifelabs_at_b_c_tribunal) — Trans-identifying trio wins $32K from LifeLabs at B.C. tribunal

## Questions

**What was the outcome of the human rights tribunal ruling?**

The British Columbia human rights tribunal ordered LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies to pay $32,000 in damages. The ruling found the companies discriminated against transgender and non-binary patients through misgendering and outing them.

**What specific instances of discrimination were reported?**

The tribunal found that a non-binary person was told to choose male or female for services and was outed in a public space. One transgender patient could not update their gender marker, and another avoided cancer screening to prevent misgendering.

**What changes are required of LifeLabs?**

LifeLabs must update its policies and staff training concerning gender identity. The company is also required to make private spaces available for transgender and non-binary patients to discuss their identity.

---

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