Close X
    Wednesday, November 20, 2024
    ADVT 
    National

    Canada's physicians formally apologize for harm to Indigenous communities

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Sep, 2024 04:11 PM
    • Canada's physicians formally apologize for harm to Indigenous communities

    The group representing Canada's physicians has formally apologized for the harm medical professionals caused to Indigenous Peoples, saying it is "deeply ashamed" and "owning its history" of racism, neglect and abuse.

    At an apology ceremony in Victoria attended by representatives from the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, the Canadian Medical Association says it is sorry that it has lost the trust of Indigenous communities and has committed to righting its wrongs.

    The association says its research has found a history of harm caused by the Canadian medical profession, including "Indian hospitals, forced medical experimentation, forced sterilization and child apprehensions."

    The group also says research has turned up systemic racism in the way physicians and others have dealt with Indigenous community members as well as the use of "outdated, racist terms," creating an environment of "unsafe" and segregated health care.

    The association says both actions and inactions by Canadian physicians created deep mistrust by the Indigenous community towards health care systems, leading to further harm to members.

    Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the organization's first Indigenous president in its 157-year history, says in a video message ahead of the apology that "recognizing truth is essential to support healing, improve Indigenous health and reconcile the ties between health professionals and Indigenous patients."

    The group also says it is committed to tracking physicians' progress in addressing the harms caused, which includes providing regular updates about the association's Indigenous health initiatives.

    Prev Next

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Driver hurt after car plunges from multi-storey parking lot at UBC

    Driver hurt after car plunges from multi-storey parking lot at UBC
    A driver has been rescued after their car plunged through a concrete wall in a multi-storey parking lot at the University of British Columbia. Matthew Trudeau with the Vancouver Fire Rescue Service says 10 emergency vehicles responded to a call to the campus around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

    Driver hurt after car plunges from multi-storey parking lot at UBC

    Immigration department says 144 Gazans on track to come to Canada, pending biometrics

    Immigration department says 144 Gazans on track to come to Canada, pending biometrics
    Ottawa has processed visa applications for 144 people in the Gaza Strip, putting them on track to be reunited with extended family members in Canada — as long as they can make it across the border for biometric screening and final approval.  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada opened a program to offer temporary visas to as many as 1,000 people in the besieged Palestinian territory, if their relatives can support them in Canada. 

    Immigration department says 144 Gazans on track to come to Canada, pending biometrics

    Federal dental care program will exclude 4.4M uninsured Canadians: report

    Federal dental care program will exclude 4.4M uninsured Canadians: report
    A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says millions of uninsured Canadians will be left out of the new federal dental program because their family income is too high. Enrolment began last month for a new federal benefits program, which was developed as a condition of a political pact between the Liberal government and the NDP.    

    Federal dental care program will exclude 4.4M uninsured Canadians: report

    Trudeau defends Jamaica trip as committee agrees to seek ethics watchdog's testimony

    Trudeau defends Jamaica trip as committee agrees to seek ethics watchdog's testimony
    Members of Parliament on the Commons ethics committee agreed to invite interim commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to testify at the earliest opportunity once the House comes back from a winter break at the end of the month. 

    Trudeau defends Jamaica trip as committee agrees to seek ethics watchdog's testimony

    Man arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

    Man arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
    A man has been arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after driving through a police traffic stop in Surrey. Surrey R-C-M-P say they responded on January 3rd to reports of a suspected impaired driver near the 13-thousand-900 block of Fraser Highway.    

    Man arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

    Arrest in violent Vancouver robbery

    Arrest in violent Vancouver robbery
    Vancouver police have arrested a man suspected of a violent robbery after he threatened to jump into False Creek. Police say officers were called to a business near West 3rd Avenue and Fir Street at around 10:30 yesterday morning for a suspect armed with bear spray and a samurai sword.    

    Arrest in violent Vancouver robbery

    PrevNext