Systemic Racism in Health Care

Related news articles

The issue of ongoing systemic racism in our health care system has been profiled in many recent news articles. These stories offer a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done to address this unacceptable health inequity.

Siksika man files human rights complaint against Alberta Health Services, hospital

Bill Graveland | The Canadian Press · Posted: September 28, 2023

A man from a First Nation in southern Alberta has filed a human rights complaint against the provincial health agency and a local hospital, alleging anti-Indigenous discrimination led to the death of his wife. The complaint filed by Benedict Crow Chief of Siksika Nation says his wife, Myra Crow Chief, died in April 2022, because staff and doctors at the Strathmore District Health Services hospital failed to disclose to them that she had active abdominal bleeding. The complaint alleges doctors knew about her condition but she was not given medication to manage her pain and was ignored by nurses.

College of Physicians calls on Quebec to recognize systemic racism in health system

Staff | Canada Press · Posted September 12, 2023

Quebec’s College of Physicians says the government is taking a “paternalistic and colonialist” approach with new legislation aimed at improving the treatment of Indigenous people in the health network.

Racism partly to blame for worse health outcomes of Indigenous women: study

Camille Bains | The Canadian Press · Posted August 28, 2023

Racism and the lack of primary care providers mean off-reserve First Nations, Metis and Inuit women and girls have poorer health overall compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, says a study by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Anti-racism policies in health care should be led by Indigenous staff: report

Camille Bains | The Canadian Press · Posted April 4, 2023

Federal report blasts anti-Indigenous racism in health care.

An Rx against racist behaviour in Alberta emergency departments

Chelsea Novak | Folio, University of Alberta · Posted March 24, 2023

After years of studying systemic racism in hospital emergency care, a team of researchers and First Nations organizations will create ways to ensure all patients are treated equitably and with dignity.

Study identifies anti-Indigenous bias among Alberta physicians

Mrinali Anchan | CBC News · Posted March 5, 2023

Experts, advocates say findings reinforce experience of Indigenous patients.

Lawsuit filed after alleged ‘inhumane’ treatment of Indigenous woman and baby at Edmonton hospital

By Emily Mertz | Global News · Posted November 3, 2022 

A lawsuit has been filed against Covenant Health after an Indigenous woman says her race played a factor in the level of care she received while delivering her pre-term baby at an Edmonton hospital. Dan Grummett reports.

Study suggests Alberta First Nations people tend to get lower level of emergency care

Bob Weber | The Canadian Press · Posted January 17, 2022

Analysis comes from more than 11 million emergency room visits

Joyce Echaquan’s death ‘unacceptable,’ Quebec coroner says in addressing inquiry findings

Kalina Laframboise | Global News · Posted October 5, 2021

A Quebec coroner stood by her recommendation that the provincial government recognize systemic racism and act upon it following her inquiry into the death of Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman who was subjected to racist taunts by health-care staff as she lay dying in hospital.

Health care system was designed to subject Indigenous people to systemic racism: Hajdu

Peter Zimonjic | CBC News · Posted October 15, 2020

Federal minister met with provinces, Indigenous leadership, medical professionals to talk racism in health care.

Blood Tribe Chief issues statement on systemic racism in southern Alberta

Justin Goulet | Lethbridge News Now · Posted June 20, 2020

The Chief of the Blood Tribe has addressed the issue of systemic racism in southern Alberta and its impacts on the Blood Tribe/Kainai.