Brian Sinclair, Joyce Echaquan died years apart in hospitals. Only one of their inquests points to change – CBC

Oct 12, 2021

Findings of report on Atikamekw woman’s death give hope, but struggle for health equity continues

“If Snow White had gone there, she would have got the same treatment under the same circumstances,” testified Dr. Thambiraja Balachandra, chief medical examiner of Manitoba, during the 2014 inquest into the death of Brian Sinclair. “Brian Sinclair or Snow White — it’s the same.”

“Would Joyce Echaquan still be alive if she were white?” asked a reporter at a 2021 press conference following the release of Quebec Coroner Géhane Kamel’s investigation report concerning the death of Joyce Echaquan. “I think so,” Kamel replied.

These two statements about the role of racism in untimely deaths of Indigenous patients in Canadian hospitals were made seven years apart.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-sinclair-echaquan-inquest-contrast-1.6204930