Statement on Indigenous-Specific Racism Issued by Regulators in Canada

In recognition of Canada’s inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) issued a public statement aimed at acknowledging what it described as the nation’s “historical racism aimed at indigenous peoples.”

The statement committed FMRAC to taking steps to eradicate indigenous-specific racism in its work.

According to FMRAC, indigenous-specific racism refers to the unique nature of stereotyping, bias and prejudice about Indigenous peoples in Canada that is rooted in the history of settler colonialism.

In its statement, FMRAC — whose members represent Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities — acknowledges that indigenous-specific racism exists in medicine and medical regulation and it commits its members to “eradicating indigenous-specific racism in their work, the work of the physicians they regulate and throughout health care in Canada” and to “being supportive partners in the system at large to contribute to tangible change.”

To accomplish these goals, FMRAC also pledged to:

  • Recognize the right of Indigenous people and communities to self-determination, including health care.

  • Develop respectful, meaningful and inclusive relationships with Indigenous partners.

  • Recognize Indigenous-specific racism, and all other forms of racism, as professional misconduct.

  • Recognize cultural humility as an essential component of professionalism in medicine.

  • Recognize cultural safety as an essential component of competence in medicine.

  • Regulate physicians who fail to demonstrate cultural safety and humility.

Source: FMRAC Statement, Sept. 30, 2021

Annual Report on Whistleblowing Published by UK Health Care Regulators

The United Kingdom’s General Medical Council (GMC) has joined seven other UK health care regulatory agencies to publish an annual report on the whistleblowing reports they have received over the last year.

The issuance of an annual whistleblowers report by the agencies was mandated in 2017 in an effort to “increase transparency in the way that whistleblowing disclosures are dealt with and to raise confidence among whistleblowers that their disclosures are taken seriously,” according to the GMC.

The report tallies the number of internal whistleblowers who have come forward to complain about issues in the health care workplace. Regulatory agencies joining the GMC in issuing the report include the General Chiropractic Council, General Dental Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

According to the GMC, 43 concerns were brought to its attention by internal whistleblowers in the 12 months between April 2020 and March 2021, an increase from the previous year, when 36 concerns were raised.

Of the whistleblowers who came forward, 17 were physicians, 10 were other health care professionals and 16 were anonymous.

The GMC actively encourages whistleblowers to come forward, including offering a confidential hotline for raising concerns. Tips and advice on how to lodge complaints or bring attention to issues in the workplace is also available on the GMC’s “Speaking Up” web portal.

To read the full report, visit the GMC website at www.gmc-uk.org.

To learn more about the GMC’s “Speak Up” portal for whistleblowers, visit www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-hub/speaking-up.

Source: GMC news release, September 27, 2021