NationTalk – First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients seeking emergency medical services in British Columbia are often assumed to be intoxicated and denied medical assessments, contributing to worsening health conditions resulting in unnecessary harm or death. This is according to information obtained by Métis Nation BC and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. Additionally, the parties have notified the First Nations Health Authority of this concern.

Participants within the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training program detail thousands of cases of racism in healthcare, resulting in the harm of Indigenous patients. In a recent training session, a program participant disclosed a common game played within B.C. hospital emergency rooms, where physicians, nurses and other staff try to guess the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of Indigenous patients. The winner of the game guesses closest to the BAC – without going over.

The Province of B.C. has yet to enforce standardized anti-racism training for health service workers. BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and Métis Nation of BC – Indigenous leadership are calling upon the Ministry of Health to accept the following four recommendations:

1. A public inquiry into Indigenous specific racism in health care in B.C with a focus on hospitals and emergency departments.
2. Ensure that all front-line staff are required to take mandatory First Nations, Métis and Inuit training that results in increased health professional personal accountability in the delivery of safe health care.
3. Commit to structural and systemic changes to dismantle indigenous specific racism to ensure culturally safe health care experiences for Indigenous people.
4. Ensure that Indigenous governments play a stronger role in the development and implementation of anti-racism programs and training throughout BC.