Friday June 19, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
~ by Mary Brooke, editor ~ West Shore Voice News
A news conference announced in a hurried fashion was held by Health Minister Adrian Dix to reveal his concerns about allegations of a sort of lottery in some hospitals as to the levels of intoxication of incoming indigenous patients to the emergency room.
“Last night, I was made aware of serious allegations of racist and completely abhorrent practices in an emergency room or emergency rooms in BC,” said Minister Dix from the cabinet offices in Vancouver. “If confirmed, this conduct is beyond unacceptable. The allegation is that a game was being played to guess the blood-alcohol level of patients in emergency rooms, with Indigenous peoples and perhaps others.”
“If this is true, it’s intolerable, unacceptable and racist. Actions like this profoundly affect patient care. This requires, in my view, an immediate and swift response,” said Dix.
“I contacted Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and asked her to lead the investigation of this issue. I think she has the credibility to do that and will do an excellent job. Foundational to our ongoing work of reconciliation are the voices of Indigenous leaders,” said Dix.
Turpel-Lafond is a former government representative for children and youth in BC. In this newly-assigned role she will be able to compel witnesses to testify.
“I consider these allegations to be very serious and we have to assess the facts, and that requires an investigation to take place. And I know we must also take action,” the health minister said today.
“As an independent investigator, Ms. Turpel-Lafond will work to determine the facts of these specific allegations,” said Dix. “We need to get to the root of these problems, and that begins with an understanding that racist attitudes and actions have a real and devastating impact on health outcomes, creating trauma that can affect generations. She will help determine the prevalence of these attitudes and actions at a systemic level in our health-care system.
“Everyone who comes to our hospitals deserves and should be able to expect access to respectful and culturally safe care.”
“We are committed to continuing the work and engagement that brought these reports forward, and will be working together with Indigenous health and community leaders on next steps,” Dix concluded.
All BC health authorities speaks out:
In support, the five health authorities issued a statement today:
“We were recently made aware of a report of an unacceptable, racist practice that may be occurring in emergency departments in B.C. If true, this activity would be evidence of systemic racism and discrimination, underscoring the significant health disparities Indigenous people in our province experience. We take reports of this nature extremely seriously. To be clear: discriminatory behaviour in any B.C. health care facility is unacceptable and violates our principles, policies and values. We fully support the provincial investigation Minister Adrian Dix announced today and are committed to working with the Ministry of Health and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on this issue. Indigenous leaders have provided us guidance and support to eradicate racism in B.C.’s health system and we know there is still much work to do. We remain actively engaged with Indigenous partners on immediate and longer-term action plans to combat anti-Indigenous racism. Together, we will make changes to ensure the health care system in B.C. is safe and equitable for all.” ~ Issued jointly on behalf of B.C.’s health authorities: Dr. Victoria Lee, president & CEO, Fraser Health | Susan Brown, president & CEO, Interior Health | Cathy Ulrich, president & CEO, Northern Health | Fiona Dalton, president & CEO, Providence Health Care | Benoit Morin, president & CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority | Vivian Eliopoulos, interim president & CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health | Kathryn MacNeil, president & CEO, Island Health
Premier Horgan is outraged:
On that matter, Premier John Horgan today issued the following statement regarding alleged racist incidents in British Columbia’s health-care system:
“I am outraged by reports of ugly, anti-Indigenous, racist behaviour at multiple health-care facilities in B.C.
“This behaviour degrades the standards and provisions of health care in our province. It cannot stand. There is no excuse. There is no explaining this away.
“No one should fear discrimination when they need help the most. No one should worry that when they visit a hospital that they will be prejudged and given a lower standard of care. If confirmed, this is a heartbreaking example of systemic racism in our province.
“These serious allegations of unacceptable, dehumanizing behaviour will be thoroughly investigated by former justice Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond,” said Horgan.
“Health Minister Adrian Dix will work with Indigenous leaders and leaders in Indigenous health. He has my full support to ensure that the details of this case will be revealed and that the voices of anyone who has experienced this racist practice will be heard,” the Premier said today.
“This will not be swept aside. We will not look the other way when racism is exposed. We will get a full account and changes will be made.”
Four recommendations from aboriginal and Métis groups:
Also today, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and Métis Nation British Columbia issued a statement, including these recommendations:
1. A public inquiry into Indigenous specific racism in health care in B.C with a focus on hospitals and emergency departments.
2. Ensure that all front-line staff are required to take mandatory First Nations, Métis and Inuit training that results in increased health professional personal accountability in the delivery of safe health care.
3. Commit to structural and systemic changes to dismantle indigenous specific racism to ensure culturally safe health care experiences for Indigenous people.
4. Ensure that Indigenous governments play a stronger role in the development and implementation of anti-racism programs and training throughout BC.
===== LINKS:
Backgrounder on Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on this BC Government webpage (June 19, 2020)
Dismantling Anti-Indigenous Racism Within the Health Care System – March 2019