A disturbing video of hospital staff uttering racist slurs to a dying mom prompts calls for action.
Joyce Echaquan is a 37-year-old Atikamekw woman in the Canadian province of Quebec. She complained of stomach pain and was brought to the Lanaudière Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) in Joliette. Her family said that Echaquan has been suffering from heart problems and may have had an adverse reaction to morphine, the Montreal Gazette reported.
Verbally abused while crying out for help
While she was in great pain, Echaquan started recording live as she cries out for help and expresses her concerns about being given drugs to which she is allergic. In the video, a nurse called her "stupid as hell." Another nurse could be heard telling Echaquan that she made some bad choices. According to The Guardian, the nurse was also recorded telling the Indigenous woman that she was "good at having sex, more than anything else."
Joyce Echaquan went to the hospital for medical help. Instead, she was told she’s stupid, only good for sex and she would be better off dead as she pleaded for help before dying. This racism in the health care system is deeply disturbing and unacceptable.https://t.co/Coi3SYrI0U — NWAC (@NWAC_CA) September 29, 2020
Echaquan's cousin, Karine, said that due to her condition, she was often hospitalized and experienced similar discrimination. Karine added that since then, Echaquan would often record videos from her hospital bed as a way of protecting herself.
Because of the live-streamed video, many of her family members learned about her state as it happened. Sadly, Echaqua already died when Karine arrived at the hospital. Other members of the family also described how uncomfortable they feel during hospital visits. Thus, they are calling for equality, regardless of your background or skin color.
"The worst form of racism"
Many were outraged by the footage, including indigenous leaders. They said that the video exposes systemic racism in the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the nurses' actions as the worst form of racism when the woman needed the most help. He furthered that the act was simply unacceptable in Canada.
An Indigenous woman lay dying in the hospital while being made fun of by hospital staff. I am so sorry Joyce. The last moments of your life should not have ended that way. Systemic racism strips people of their dignity and kills them. It has to end - Jagmeet Singh @theJagmeetSingh
This has always been an issue with Canada, It is ridiculous that when it's shown everyone is surprised, but honestly this happens all of the time. When my friends tell me I should go to a doctor I don't go unless if it's an emergency and even then I worry. - Justbearwithmeplease@JordanLalond
Sorry to say this but Quebec has for a long long time treated indigenous people very badly. Worse than some other provinces ? Yes.It has been well documented for generations - Kate Minor @KateMinor2
Premier François Legault announced that there would be two inquiries on the case. He said that one of the nurses involved was already fired. Although, he said that he doesn't think that this kind of way dealing with First Nations people in Quebec hospitals. He did acknowledge that there is racism in Quebec, but they "are working on that."
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