Working site on citizenship and multiculturalism issues.
2013/10/22 Leave a comment
A good piece on some of the challenges in providing healthcare in a diverse society, provoked by the position paper of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While some accommodation is reasonable, when feasible, particularly for elderly patients where language may be an issue, and in some cases gender, being overly accommodating goes against integration, as it removes another touch point among communities. If excessive accommodation is provided, it creates expectations for ongoing and further accommodation.
Again, my experience is that more and more of the people I interact with are from diverse backgrounds. I don’t consider my consent to their providing treatment as me accommodating them, just part of my normal interaction with professionals.
The society’s CEO, Jennifer Blake, said the organization does respect that many people feel more comfortable with a doctor of the same culture, language or gender – “when that can be achieved.”
“The problem really arises in emergency or night coverage when it is simply not possible to accommodate every preference,” said Dr. Blake by email. “We have taken the position that our fundamental responsibility is to ensure that there is a competent, well-trained professional available 24×7.”
2013/10/15 1 Comment
Behind all the official reasons cited, there must be fear of losing qualified personnel. But if an exception for healthcare, why not for daycare or education?
Charte des valeurs: Québec songe à exclure la santé | Denis Lessard | Politique québécoise.
2013/08/31 Leave a comment
On the practical side of multiculturalism and diversity, choice of doctors.
While most of the long-standing members of my cancer medical team are Caucasian, the newer group of doctors, fellows, interns and nurses are much more diverse. Issues that sometimes comes up, not with the Canadian-born but with some foreign-born doctors, include language fluency and experience in how to discuss difficult medical issues, but both are a matter of learning through doing, not issues of medical competence. And generally, the newbies spend more time with you as part of their development, which can be helpful.
2013/07/26 Leave a comment
A more open discussion than one normally sees on racism and discrimination on the front lines of healthcare. While our hospital has an appropriate code of on rights and responsibilities, Your rights and responsibilities, it is a challenge to implement given the number and variety if people being seen, time pressures, the health and psychological pressure on patients, and the normal human wish to avoid conflict.
No excuse for bad behaviour of any sort but understand why doctors and other medical staff may prefer to duck and move on to the next patient.
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Multicultural Meanderings 