The global pandemic and the widespread protests that erupted in the wake of the killing of George Floyd have laid bare the racial inequities that permeate society. CBC News spoke with five Canadian physicians about the impact of systemic racism in their profession.
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across the U.S. and Canada to protest against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His last words — “I can’t breathe” — have become a rallying cry to end systemic racism not just in policing but also in other sectors of society.
At the same time, the global pandemic has laid bare the social inequities that make Black, Indigenous and other people of colour more susceptible to COVID-19.
CBC News spoke with five Canadian physicians about racism they’ve personally experienced and what impact systemic discrimination has had on their patients and their profession.
Dr. Onye Nnorom, 39
Family doctor, president of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario in Toronto
“I intentionally didn’t watch the [George Floyd] video. When I watch these videos, I see a human being, but I also see my father. I see my brother. I see my sons, because this is part of our entire life of feeling systemic anti-Black racism … It impacts everyone, because it’s a human being, but for us, it’s our past, our present and our potential future in a moment like that.
“There are many layers to it (racism). It’s in how patients are treated. I’ve engaged with so many community members who describe being ignored when they go to the emergency department.
“For example, people who may come in for a pain crisis for a particular genetic condition, sickle cell disease, which predominantly affects people of west African descent.
“When they come and they need treatment with opioids, they are thought to be drug seeking … Based on the research from the United States, there is no evidence that black patients are more drug-seeking or have a predisposition to becoming addicted to opioids. But those biases are there.
“People saying that they are colour blind is not helpful at all, because it denies the inequities we experience as Black people in Canada.”
WATCH | Dr. Onye Nnorom on the structures and systems that have historically favoured white Canadians:
In a survey of black physicians, 72 per cent reported experiences of racism — from peers, supervisors and often patients, says Dr. Onye Nnorom 1:08
Dr. Nel Wieman, 55
Psychiatrist, senior medical officer at the First Nations Health Authority in Vancouver
“It’s not a surprise to me to see people rising up and exclaiming their unhappiness and wanting things to change. What has surprised me a little bit is the sustainability of the movement.
“As far as Indigneous people are concerned, you just have to look at the largest national reports concerning Indigenous people. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the reporting into murdere