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    The Conversation: Living to tell the story: Lawsuit accuses ER doctor of anti-Indigenous racism

    February 14, 2025

    Author

    Adele Perry

    By: Mary Jane Logan McCallum and Adele Perry

    As written in The Conversation Canada

    On Jan. 15, 2023, Justin Flett arrived at the emergency room at St. Anthony’s Hospital, in The Pas, Manitoba.

    According to Flett’s statement of claim, submitted to the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba in December and as reported by CBC News and APTN, he told the triage nurse he was experiencing distressing abdominal pain.

    Justin Flett, far right, has accused a Manitoba ER doctor of anti-Indigenous racism. Flett is shown at a news conference in Winnipeg with Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Willie Moore, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brittany Hobson

    Flett was assigned a triage score of five, which is intended for non-urgent low-priority cases. The statement of claim alleges that the physician who finally saw Flett insinuated that he was hungover, saying something to the effect of: “I don’t know what to tell you, we don’t treat you here for hangovers.” Flett was not given diagnostic tests, imaging, a physical examination or pain medication.


    To read the full story, visit The Conversation Canada.

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