Public Consultation: Standard of Practice for Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism
NOTE: The public consultation for the draft Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism is now closed.
We recognize this topic may cause trauma or revoke memories of past harms experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals. Support is available to those affected at The Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 and Hope For Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310, or online at hopeforwellness.ca
Provide your feedback on the DRAFT Standard for Practice for Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism
Based upon the guidance from the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Circle, CPSM has launched a public consultation to receive input on the DRAFT Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism.
Health gaps continue to widen amongst Indigenous people. As a medical regulator, CPSM can proactively educate registrants on what anti-Indigenous racism is, how to identify it, and how to practice medicine in a manner that is anti-racist to eliminate the harm that Indigenous patients experience.
We invite the public, CPSM registrants, and other stakeholders, to review the Standard and provide feedback.
We highly value feedback from Indigenous people and organizations, as these perspectives and lived experiences are essential to enhancing the standard of practice.
Considerations for providing feedback:
- Please review the background information below, as they provide essential details about how this document was informed, developed, and structured.
- We are looking for meaningful feedback. We suggest setting aside some time to reflect on the document, supporting documents, and the many examples and information. There is a lot of information which may take some time to process and reflect on.
The Standard & Contextual Document
- View the DRAFT Standard of Practice for Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism
- View the DRAFT Contextual Information & Resources
Background Information
Who does this Standard of Practice apply to?
The need for an anti-Indigenous racism Standard
How was the Standard developed?
How will the Standard solve this problem?
Putting the Standard into practice through education
How will this Standard be enforced?
Who does this Standard of Practice apply to?
This standard applies to CPSM registrants.
Any reference to registrants, the medical profession, or medical practitioners in this document refers to CPSM registrants, including physicians, residents, clinical assistants, physician assistants, medical learners and physician assistant learners.
The need for an anti-Indigenous racism standard
Throughout the history of the practice of medicine in Manitoba, Indigenous peoples have experienced harm from the health care system.
Unless you have experienced it, you may be unaware of what anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system looks like.
Some may recognize anti-Indigenous racism but fear speaking up or feel they don’t have the power to make meaningful change. Harms have become rationalized over time as ‘it’s just how things have always been done.’
The status quo cannot continue. Change is critical.
We recognize there are many who dedicate themselves to educating others about the harms of anti-Indigenous racism and advocating for healthy equity.
As a regulator, we can shift the way we think and talk about the behaviours and actions, or inactions, that result in harming Indigenous people.
This Standard was developed to empower registrants with the knowledge and skills to understand and identify anti-Indigenous racism. With an understanding and awareness, registrants can practice medicine in a way that eliminates harm.
This requires a significant cultural change; doing so will not be onerous.
The Standard of Practice aspires to remind medical practitioners to follow the Code of Ethics and Professionalism.
How was the Standard developed? Were any Indigenous people consulted?
This Standard was developed by a working group of the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Circle led by Dr. Lisa Monkman. The working group comprised of Indigenous physicians, Elders, Indigenous community leaders, and CPSM staff.
Before drafting, the working group sought input from focus groups comprised of Indigenous physicians and other health care providers, Indigenous community leaders, organizations, individuals, and the Manitoba Métis Federation to seek guidance on what they thought would be appropriate for a Standard of Practice.
The focus groups identified that Indigenous people seek respect and basic human decency from healthcare providers.
This mirrors what the Code of Ethics and Professionalism requires the medical profession to do for all patients.
How will the Standard solve this problem?
Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between what the Code of Ethics and Professionalism demands and the care that has been and continues to be provided to Indigenous peoples. The new Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism will help heal that disconnect. The first words of the Standard state:
“This Standard of Practice will guide and inform Registrants on how to practice medicine in a manner that prevents Anti-Indigenous racism and the harm that Indigenous patients experience from that racism.”
This Standard is based on education and learning to become better at practicing medicine through three steps:
1. Understanding and acknowledging that racism exists and results in negative health impacts.
2. Identifying acts and omissions of anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system and the practice of medicine.
3. Taking action to address acts and omissions of anti-Indigenous racism.
The Code of Ethics and Professionalism requires medical practitioners to know their limitations, know their patients, and educate themselves. This is the first step toward closing the gap in health outcomes for Indigenous people that currently exists.
With this knowledge, registrants will begin to identify acts or omissions of anti-Indigenous racism. When we see what is occurring around us, we can take action to make positive change.
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Putting the Standard into practice through education
The starting point for learning is the Contextual Information and Resources document accompanying the Standard of Practice. There is more information, examples and cases cited, links to additional resources, and frequently asked questions to assist learning.
In addition, the University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences has recently launched a ten-module Indigenous cultural safety training developed specifically for health care professionals in Manitoba. In the coming months, CPSM will release more information about educational requirements for CPSM Registrants.
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How will this Standard be enforced?
It is of utmost importance for registrants to understand that implementing this new Standard of Practice will differ from most other Standards.
To enable the success of the standard and to change the behaviours and culture that have allowed racism to continue, we need a process that empowers individuals to do better.
We are building a program that will promote a restorative and educational approach to support the profession and the implementation of the standard of practice. It will address anti-Indigenous racism concerns that may arise in the practice of medicine by registrants. This program will allow for learning and growth without the fear of immediate discipline and will be housed under CPSM’s Quality Department.
It will be led by an expert in anti-Indigenous, health-related racism and restorative practices.
Our goal is to eliminate anti-Indigenous racism in the practice of medicine in Manitoba. We cannot do this without a developmental approach to support each other as a profession.
How to submit your feedback
We invite the public, specifically Indigenous people and Indigenous organizations, CPSM registrants, and other stakeholders to review the Standard and provide your feedback.
We recognize this is a lot of information. We suggest taking the following steps:
- Review the 9-page DRAFT Standard of Practice – Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism.
- Review the Contextual Information and Resources which is supplementary to the Standard.
- Submit your feedback through any of the following:
· Submit your comments by email to cpsmconsultation@cpsm.mb.ca
· Submit your comments in writing by mail to:
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba
1000-1661 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3T7
· Leave a voice-recorded message with your comments at 1-833-836-4940 (toll-free)
The deadline to submit your feedback is November 11, 2024.
For more details on CPSM's public consultation process, visit this page.