Angela Cooper Brathwaite, RNAO immediate past-president and co-chair of the association’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force, writes a letter to the Brampton Guardian (July 9) about systemic racism in Canada’s health-care system. The letter is in response to news that Leonard Rodriques, a PSW who passed away from COVID-19, was reluctant to seek medical help because he feared he would be treated differently because he was Black.

The litany of health-system failures that contributed to the death of Leonard Rodriques, and subjected his family to untold grief and loss, can only be understood as manifestations of a health-care system deeply rooted in systemic racism. That Mr. Rodriques was reluctant to seek medical help because he feared he would be treated differently because he was Black is telling in itself. The treatment Mr. Rodriques received must be a wake-up call, and RNAO is calling for a coroner’s investigation into his death. In Ontario, a coroner may become involved when concerns are raised regarding the care provided to an individual prior to death.

There are multiple questions that must be answered: Why wasn’t he provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) in his workplace when it was known other workers had been infected? Why was he discharged from hospital even though he was a health-care worker who worked at a facility experiencing an outbreak, and was obviously suffering from symptoms? Why didn’t an ambulance show up when the family called 911? Why was the family left to deal with his body in such a disgraceful way after he died in his sleep at home? Why was he cremated against his family’s wishes?

As nurses, we send our deepest condolences to his wife Dorothy, to whom he was married for 33 years, and to his children Terena and Temall. We also thank them for the courage to speak out. We know of others who have had similar experiences, and fear speaking out.
Racism permeates every aspect of our society and its institutions, including health care. Combatting it requires substantive and sustained efforts to ensure structural and behavioural changes. Answering vital questions about the death of Mr. Rodriques is a good starting point. Calling a coroner’s inquest into his death is the first step.

RNAO is also doing its part, committed to cleaning up our own backyard within the nursing profession. This is why we are launching a task force to tackle anti-Black racism within the profession.