Independent investigator Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond found only anecdotal reports of a "Price is Right" game played with the blood alcohol content of Indigenous patients. (flickr/Gov't of B.C.)

By Spencer Sterritt

price is right

Investigator finds racism against Indigenous people in B.C. hospitals but no “Price is Right” game

Nov 30, 2020 | 11:05 AM

NANAIMO — “Clear evidence” of widespread racism within B.C.’s health care system was recorded by an investigator, but not the specific incident she was tasked with uncovering.

Independent investigator Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond announced her findings on Monday, Nov. 30. She’d been tasked with reviewing systemic racism against Indigenous people after allegations arose of a “Price is Right” game involving nurses guessing the blood alcohol content of Indigenous patients.

“The Review found no evidence to substantiate that the ‘Price is Right’ game was being played in B.C. hospital emergency departments,” the report said. “If such games did occur in the past, they are not occurring today.”

Turpel-Lafond said there are “episodic, anecdotal reports” resembling the allegations but none which could be described as “prevalent, widespread or targeting only Indigenous patients.”

The report noted guessing of certain patient levels, such as blood alcohol, can be ‘routine and may be clinically appropriate’, however evidence of profiling among Indigenous patients was found.

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The scope of her review widened to encompass not just the game but systemic racism against Indigenous people.

It said “a lack of cultural safety and hundreds of examples of prejudice and racism throughout the entire B.C. health care system” was a “widespread and insidious problem.”

This includes stereotyping Indigenous patients as drunks and drug-seekers which in turn led to abusive interactions, a denial of services and inappropriate pain management.

Not “every Indigenous person who gets health care will experience direct or indirect racism, but…any Indigenous person could experience it-anywhere in the system. We have a significant problem that must be urgently addressed.”

Many outcomes of such treatment were detailed in the report, such as higher infant mortality, higher counts of suicidal thoughts and a shorter life expectancy for Indigenous people.

Nearly 2,800 Indigenous people replied to a survey for the investigation.

The report said 84 per cent of Indigenous respondents reported some form of discrimination when receiving health care in B.C.

More than 50 per cent of Indigenous health care workers said they’d experienced racism in the work place, most often from discriminatory comments made by colleagues.

Upwards of 500 of the 5,440 health care workers surveyed made racist comments in their responses.

The report recommended a task force be created to implement solutions addressing failures in the health care system, behaviours of health care workers and the lack of cultural awareness.

This includes implementing more options to keep people accountable, focus on increasing Indigenous representation in leadership positions and creating a new School for Indigenous Medicine.

A further report on how to implement the 23 recommendations from the report is expected in the coming months.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt