Systemic racism Plagues Quebec’s healthcare system

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LJI Journalist Name
cutvmontreal
LJI Partner Name
CUTV Montreal
Region
Quebec
Community
Montreal

CUTV's reporters has revealed many incidences of racism and other forms of oppression in Quebec's healthcare system to show Quebecer's that there is a strong need for the provincial government to admit that systemic racism exists in the healthcare system and to gather the political will to change policies and procedures in hospitals.

Systemic racism plagues Quebec's healthcare system, as situations where people of colour (POC) patients have said to have had their pain ignored, mistreated by healthcare professions, causing them to allege racism – and even some situations where POC patients have died due to malpractice, resulting in families alleging racism. Many cases have been cited in Montreal and just outside of the city, with a report released last fall detailing cases of racism and discrimination in Quebec's largest healthcare network located in the heart of Montreal. 

This report detailed that both staff and patients are discriminated against due to their race, religion and ethnic origin at McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). The results were released just weeks before the two year anniversary of Joyce Echaquan's death. Echaquan was a Atikamekw woman who received inhumane and racist treatment from nurses at a hospital in Joliette.The coroner assessing Echaquan’s case said she believes she would still be alive if she were white.

Echaquan’s death resulted in public outcry in Montreal and the rest of the province, bringing forth the conversation of racism and how POC receive different treatment or lack of treatment compared to white people in Montreal and Quebec's healthcare system. However, Quebec Premier François Legault has continuously denied systemic racism exists in Quebec, but under the CAQ government, patients have died due to racism, a term coined “medical lynching”.

Ah-tik-ah-mek leaders in Quebec drafted Joyce’s Principal following the mother of seven’s death. The principal “aims to guarantee to all Indigenous people the right of equitable access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.” The provincial government refused to draft the legislation because it referenced systemic racism.

Local 514 reached out to Quebec’s Minister of Health Christian Dubé to discuss systemic racism in the healthcare system, but we were denied an interview. A representative said, “we must continue to fight against racism in Quebec, especially within the health network,” adding that they have announced measures to promote cultural security for Aboriginal people and implemented training on Aboriginal realities for all health care personnel.” The government acknowledges racism within the healthcare system, yet continues to deny systemic racism.

A year ago, MUHC executive director Pierre Gfeller released a statement announcing that MUHC would uphold Joyce’s Principle, yet Indigenous people were cited in the report for receiving both inadequate healthcare and experiencing racism by healthcare providers. Despite this, systemic racism has been said to continue at MUHC.

One account within the report experienced by a Black employee cited their manager as calling them the N-word and hitting them numerous times. Examples of discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+, Islamophobia, anti-Asian racism and sexism were also included in the report.

Gilda Salomone, the communications officer from the MUHC said racism and discrimination has no place in society, and especially not in our health and social services system. Salomone said the board asked a committee to take a close look at the situation in our institution and produce a report and that management will now determine next steps regarding implementation, under the usual oversight of the Board.

She said the MUHC will continue to work with Indigenous communities in the Montreal area and beyond to improve healthcare and provide more to ensure underrepresented groups have equal access to jobs and advancement opportunities, and a safe reporting system to address any issue of discrimination, racism and bias.

There are multiple cases in Montreal and just outside the city where POC patients said they or their family members received inadequate healthcare, had their pain dismissed or refused further treatment.

Hours after leaving the Jewish General Hospital's emergency room, Akeem Scott died of acute peritonitis. Peritonitis, which is inflammation of the abdomen lining, is life threatening but treatable.

In the four hours Scott waited in the ER experiencing excruciating pain, the 26-year-old was never offered a bed. He instead was curled up in a fetal position on the floor, as security threatened to make Scott leave if he did not get up. After being told he would have to wait 18 more hours, he went to get rest at a friend's apartment nearby with plans to return in the morning. Scott’s friend found him vomiting blood in the morning and called the ambulance. By the time they arrived, Scott’s heart had failed and paramedics were not able to revive him. 

The Coroner said Scott’s condition was classified as Priority 3 by the triage nurse, meaning he should have been seen within 30 minutes of arrival. His friend accompanying him at the ER alleges racial discrimination, stating if Scott were white, he would have received a bed right away. 

Winston Nelson, a senior from the Mohawk reserve Kanesatake, was sent home from the closest hospital to his house in only a medical gown, socks and a soiled diaper. Nelson’s family filed a case with the Quebec Human Rights Commission. The most serious allegation included the doctor calling Nelsons’ wife to have her pick him up, as his health was deteriorating. The doctor said there was nothing they could do and that he should die at home.

So what needs to change to end systemic racism and provide better care to all patients?

Fo Niemi, director of the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations has represented multiple cases where patients experienced racism in Montreal’s healthcare system, some circumstances even resulting in death.

Niemi said we need to rethink and redesign healthcare services to make them more culturally sensitive in order to respond to needs of First Nations and Inuit in way that recognizes cultural safety, dignity – as they see it, not as system sees it. "Where are Indigenous people among staff, healthcare providers,"" Questioned Niemi.

All healthcare institutions under the Quebec government are regulated by the employment equity act," he said, adding that Quebec adopted this act in ‘01. 

Niemi said the act seems to not be working for iIndigenous people, visible minorities and people with disabilities. He fully implementing this act into the healthcare system requires political will.

 

 

 

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