Family mulls next steps in hospital racism claim
A Regina family is calling on the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) to launch a new investigation into claims a relative faced racism while she received palliative care services at the Pasqua Hospital.
About three dozen of Juliette Tapaquon’s family and friends gathered at the Cancer Survivor Garden in front of the Pasqua on Friday afternoon to pay tribute to her and bring attention to what they said was discriminatory treatment the 39-year-old endured before dying on Oct. 2, 2014.
Since Juliette’s passing, the family has worked diligently with the RQHR to make positive changes in palliative care for First Nations people and for all people, said Bob Hughes of the Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism (SCAR).
However, communication between the family and region has broken down. Joyce Tapaquon, Juliette’s mother, told reporters it has been a frustrating and painful two years, with numerous unresolved issues despite the many meetings they’ve had with RQHR officials.
Joyce is particularly upset her daughter didn’t receive adequate pain control or traditional ceremonies, such as smudging and the presence of an elder, when she was dying. “I’m asking the (Regina) Qu’Appelle Health Region for fresh eyes, fresh people to reopen that dialogue for the Tapaquon family,” Joyce said. “Come talk. If you can’t do that, then you know what, step off your job and let other people step in and do what they have to do and provide end-of-life care for First Nations people and quality care.”
She stressed quality palliative care should be available for all people — aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. “We’re not the only family that experienced this,” said Joyce.
She added: “To this day, racism is alive in palliative care.”
The RQHR issued a statement on Friday that read in part: “We offer our very sincere sympathies to this family in their time of grief and loss, and are sorry that we did not meet all of their expectations or needs in the care of their loved one.”
On Friday morning, Joyce said the next step the family was considering is who they will speak to if the RQHR doesn’t address their concerns. Joyce did not rule out lodging a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, an independent provincial commission that is responsible for receiving complaints of discrimination under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.