COMMENTARY: Privilege. Blame. Allyship. Reflecting on reconciliation as a non-Indigenous physician – CMA

I am a doctor who works in the hospital where Brian Sinclair died after waiting over 30 hours for care. Systemic racism and structural barriers failed Mr. Sinclair and led to his preventable death.

And the health system continues to fail many others. Every day when I go to work, I reflect on the experience of Mr. Sinclair Opens in a new window, or think about Marcia Anderson’s story, a physician who has spoken about her father’s traumatic near-death, or the many others I have heard. We have taken some steps to improve our systems, but many more remain.

During National Indigenous Peoples Month, we have the opportunity to reflect on the history, heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples. It’s also a time to consider our personal journeys of reconciliation and question how, collectively, we can do better.

I was recently installed as Canadian Medical Association (CMA) president at a time when we’re grappling with systemic inequities that continue to perpetuate anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination in health care.

Read More: https://www.cma.ca/about-us/what-we-do/press-room/commentary-privilege-blame-allyship-reflecting-reconciliation-non-indigenous-physician