An incident from earlier this week where woman demanded a “white doctor” treat her son at a walk-in clinic in Mississauga, Ont., is part of a larger problem, say doctors, who have a unique challenge when confronted with racism.
In a video of an incident at Rapid Access to Medical Specialists that was shared widely online a woman asks clinic staff several times for a “white doctor” that “speaks English.”
“You’re saying the whole entire building there isn’t one white doctor?” the woman says in the video. “Can I see a doctor please that is white? That doesn’t have brown teeth and speaks English.”
WATCH: Woman demands ‘white doctor’ who ‘speaks English’ at clinic in Ontario
Ritika Goel, a family physician in Toronto, said she was shocked by the overt racism in the video but says she has experienced racism or xenophobia several times in her profession.
“A patient in labour had her husband present with her and he expressed a desire to not have ‘brown doctors,’” Goel said. “I’ve also experienced a number of occasions where patients have made disparaging remarks about other racialized people or immigrants.”
While doctors say the incidents of racism are not uncommon it can be challenging to balance the responsibility of delivering care for a patient who is racist.
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Kulvinder Gill, a pediatrician and allergist based in the Greater Toronto Area, said she and many colleagues have experienced incidents of racism.
“There is a lot of grey area here,” said Gill, who is also the president of Concerned Ontario Doctors. “We can’t turn away patients …. the only situation when were are allowed to refuse care is when it’s outside our scope of practice.”
“We are encouraged to try and de-escalate the situation and to try and come to a common ground so we are able to provide care for that patient.”
Peel police were called to the clinic for a “disturbance” on Sunday, but a police spokesman said that after interviewing all parties involved, no charges were laid and the woman’s son eventually received treatment
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A spokesperson for the CPSO said there currently is no policy in place to address specific incidents of racism.
However, the College said that doctors can stop seeing a patient or can remove themselves from situations where there is “abusive or threatening language” or when the “patient poses a risk of harm to the physician, staff, colleagues, and/or other patients.”
The Canadian Medical Association said in a statement that “racism has no place in Canada nor in our health-care system.”
“Part of Canada’s strength is our multicultural history and makeup,” said CMA president Dr. Granger Avery.
And Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne called the incident “shocking.”
“I think it’s a shocking occurrence and there is no place for that kind of behaviour for that kind of racism and hatred,” she said. “It was very, very disturbing.”
Both Gill and Goel said while doctors have a duty to care for patients they should also have the ability to work in an environment free from discrimination.
“We don’t talk about racism that physicians may face,” she said. “And we also don’t talk about the racism patients may face from health-care providers. Lots more conversations need to be had in all directions.”
*With a file from the Canadian Press
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