“Indigenous peoples (indigenous peoples, Métis and Inuit) waited too long to recognize their legal rights. They waited too long, the health system responsible personnel disintegrated and established in our colonial health care system Racism-racism continues to cause harm today.”

“We apologize to the indigenous peoples and communities who experienced racism in contact with us and the medical professionals we supervise.”

The apology was signed by the CEO of the College of Nurses and Midwives of British Columbia, the College of Pharmacists in British Columbia, the College of Dental Surgeons in British Columbia, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons in British Columbia.

Together, these universities supervise doctors, surgeons, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and dental workers in the province.

The apology came months after the discovery of the independent report Racism, stereotypes, and discrimination against indigenous peoples in the BC health care system Widespread and can be fatal.

In the report released in November 2020, 84% of the indigenous people participated in the report At a glance, Recalling some form of discrimination in healthcare. More than half of the indigenous health care workers who participated in the event said they had experienced racism at work.

Suggestions for University Implementation

in Their statement, The universities are committed to implementing the report’s recommendations.

The promised changes include training to ensure culturally safe healthcare, better representation of indigenous people on boards and committees, and simplified complaint procedures so that indigenous people can speak more safely.

The statement said: “Only through consistent and specific actions to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples and eliminate racism in the healthcare system can we begin to slowly win the trust of indigenous peoples.”

Supervision colleges are in place to protect the public, ensure that medical staff are qualified and comply with ethical standards. They investigate allegations of misconduct and have the right to prohibit health care workers from engaging in their professions when necessary.

At a glance Commissioned after it was revealed that the emergency room staff of a hospital on Vancouver Island were allegedly playing “games” Where would they guess the amount of alcohol in the blood of indigenous patients.

The former judge, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, is required to investigate these allegations, but the scope and extent of indigenous-specific racism in the provincial medical system should also be reported more broadly.

Although the investigative team was unable to confirm the allegations of “gaming” at Vancouver Island Hospital, it did find that “indigenous patients were extensively described based on stereotypes of addiction.”

When her report was published, Turpel-Lafond told the media at the time that it was clear that the province needed to rebuild its medical system into “a system without deep-rooted racism.”