Have you had an experience with the healthcare system where you did not feel your cultural beliefs were properly supported. One example that comes strait to mind is that of an indigenous women was forced to go outside by wheelchair in -20C weather to leave the Ottawa Hospital's property so she could perform a smudging ceremony. The hospital later apologized. This is a perfect learning opportunity. The hospital reported that staff has no idea what smudging was (Crawford, 2019) This thread is not a place for ranting, but a place to get out in the open, what knowledge is lacking, and what systems are not working. We need to acknowledge the mistakes if we are ever going to learn from them.
When you read an example, think, what could we do differently?
Reference:
Crawford, B. (2019) Hospital asks forgiveness after Indigenous smudging ceremony forced outside into -20 C cold. The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved from: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/hospital-asks-forgiveness-after-indigenous-smudging-ceremony-forced-outside-into-20-c-cold
I don't know if this is really culture related, but I wish people in health care didn't focus so much on the fact that I smoke. Not just me, I know lots of people who say that they are treated different because they smoke. I have a relative who has issues with getting chronic bronchitis and laryngitis. When she goes to the doctor, she waits for her appointment and goes in and all they say is quit smoking and then come back. Clearly if it was that easy she would have quit. Yes we have all watched the commercials and read the smoking packages. We know it is bad. It is an addiction. But to completely deny services is discrimination I think. The don't even give her cough syrup or a puffer or anything.