Updating the CMA Code of Ethics to combat anti-Indigenous racism – CMA
June 18, 2025
Experiencing racism and discrimination in the health system is still a troubling reality for many Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
“What I’ve heard consistently from Indigenous patients is that their chance of having a negative health care encounter is much higher than it is for the general population,” said Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) Indigenous advisor in residence. “Sometimes the racism is blatant, where a patient tells a provider something and is challenged or called a liar.”
Dr. Lafontaine is an anesthesiologist in Grande Prairie, Alta., where he has lived for more than a decade. But he’s heard similar stories from Indigenous patients across Canada.
Read More: https://www.cma.ca/latest-stories/updating-cma-code-ethics-combat-anti-indigenous-racism
