The Hongcouver | Canadian hospital sues mother of million-dollar baby, amid growing concern over Chinese birth tourism

In the Spring of 2012, Yan Xia was admitted to Richmond Hospital in British Columbia and had a baby.

But something went seriously wrong, and it would be months before Yan (a non-resident of Canada), and her child (a newly minted Canadian citizen), were discharged.

What they left behind was a massive hospital bill. With interest, this would stand at almost C$1.2 million (US$922,000).

Their current whereabouts are unknown, although China would be an excellent guess. According to Carrie Stefanson, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority’s public affairs leader, the “overwhelming majority” of non-resident mothers who give birth in Richmond Hospital list China as their place of residence.

Yan’s case is revealed in a lawsuit by VCH, filed on April 12 in pursuit of the unpaid bill.

VCH refused to provide details of Yan’s case, except to confirm that both mother and child had been successfully discharged (See update below).