Thread by @DrMakokis

An opinion piece written for the @globeandmail I also included racism experienced in residency, in what would have been paragraph 4: Racism even affected my medical education. During my first year of medical residency at Victoria General Hospital, /1
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…

a nurse assaulted me as I entered a birthing room to deliver a baby. She identified the braid of hair hanging down my back and used it to forcibly prevent me from entering the delivery room. “You don’t belong in there“ she said in a harsh voice, making it clear she believed /2

there was no possibility I was the doctor because of my Indigeneity. I told her to stop interfering with my work as I was the physician on call and proceeded to deliver the baby. Immediately after, I reported the incident to the Residency Program Director. /3

Much to my dismay, not only was there no disciplinary action, but I was required to move hospitals while the nurse went on like normal. There was no follow up, apologies, or structural changes to ensure other learners would not be harmed. /4

“That’s just the way that ward is,” I was told. /end. Indigenous physicians face violence, as do Indigenous patients. There is much more to tell. There is much work to do.

Joyce should not have died. #justiceforJoyce