09/30/2024
I will never forget one of my first cases as a Patient Advocate.
A young Indigenous woman was dismissed and mistreated by multiple physicians over a four-year timespan before connecting with me. I met her for the first time, and we talked for over two hours. She shared her background, current life, and what she had been through within the Alberta healthcare system. I listened intently, and my heart broke hearing what she had experienced despite her best intentions to advocate for herself.
She was an eager student and embraced the education, strategies, and tools I provided to help her concerns be heard and receive the care she desperately wanted. I accompanied her to an appointment with a General Surgeon she had never met before. I was there to take notes, be another set of ears, ensure no relevant details or questions were missed, provide emotional support, and, if needed, give her a gesture to get back on track.
She was a rock star!
The surgery she had been trying to get for the past four years was deemed urgent and took place three months later. She was bawling with relief, and I had tears streaming down my cheeks as we walked out of the building.
A few weeks later, she requested that I accompany her to a second appointment with her long-time specialist despite feeling comfortable with him and feeling he had her best interests at heart. I won’t go into detail about what happened, but I can’t describe the shame I felt for my race. The treatment she endured was not only deplorable but could have been considered malpractice. We talked, sat silently for an hour afterward, and tried to understand what happened. I presented the option to file a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. She wanted to move on and concentrate on her upcoming surgery and regaining the quality of life she had been lacking for the last four years. I respected her feelings and decisions but ardently wished the doctor would be held accountable for his actions.
Witnessing racism and the injustices caused by power imbalances profoundly concerns me. As a patient advocate, I aim to educate, empower, and encourage individuals to find the courage and strength to advocate effectively for themselves. For those who feel incapable or need support, I will stand beside them, do my best to protect them and strive to catalyze meaningful change.
On September 18, 2024, at a ceremony in Victoria, British Columbia, a “deeply ashamed” Canadian Medical Association apologized for its role, and the role of the medical profession, in past and ongoing harms to First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples in the health system. Dr Joss Reimer, CMA stated, “We have not lived up to the ethical standards the medical profession is expected to uphold to ensure the highest standard of care is provided to patients and trust is fostered in physicians, residents and medical students. We realize we have left Indigenous Peoples out of that high standard of care. www.cma.ca The CMA apologized for the “deplorable racism, discrimination and physical and psychological harms Indigenous people have faced as a result of the actions and inactions of physicians both historically and today. The CMA is committed to righting our wrongs and rebuilding our relationship on a foundation of trust, accountability and reciprocity.
Through this long-overdue apology, the CMA takes a vital step toward healing and reconciliation. It acknowledges the past harms inflicted on the Indigenous community and commits to a future rooted in respect, equity, and justice.
However, a genuine apology must be accompanied by a change in behaviour and only then can it be a powerful tool in healing relationships and restoring trust. I pray this happens for the Indigenous community here in Alberta. 🧡🧡
Patient Pathways Healthcare Navigation + AdvocatesConnie Jorsvik
