Questions raised about systemic racism in Montreal healthcare in new report

It’s been two years since Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman, died shortly after recording herself on Facebook live as health-care workers made racist and derogatory remarks to her. Echaquan, experiencing extreme pain, was sedated, restrained and left alone shortly before her death.

Echaquan’s death highlights how not all Quebecers face the same barriers in the healthcare system. People of colour face greater barriers as a result of an institution plagued by systemic racism. Montreal has multiple cases where patients have experienced systemic racism in the healthcare system. 

Laurence Guénette, coordinator of Monteal-based human rights organization and Fo Niemi and civil rights organization The Center for Research-Action (CRARR) spoke with Local 514 about systemic racism in Montreal's healthcare system.

Just weeks ago, a report on systemic racism was released detailing issues at Quebec’s largest hospital network located in Montreal. The report detailed that both staff and patients are discriminated against due to their race, religion and ethnic origin at McGill University Health Centre. 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.

A year ago, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) executive director Pierre Gfeller released a statement announcing the MUHC would uphold Joyce’s Principle, which was drafted by Atikamekw leaders following Echaquan'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.” Despite Gfeller stating the MUHC would uphold the principal, Indigenous people were cited in the report for receiving both inadequate healthcare and experiencing racism by healthcare providers. 

Niemi said institutional response to systemic racism is important to consider too, as the authors of this study were prohibited to speak with the media considering the report.

MUHC communications officer Gilda Salomone told Local 514 that 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 examples of racialized patients receiving inadequate healthcare, having their pain dismissed or being refused further treatment. Many of these cases have resulted in death.

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.

Hours after leaving the Jewish General Hospital's emergency room (ER), 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 laid 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.