This was confirmed Wednesday afternoon Pierre-Alexandre Maltais, senior communications and media relations advisor at the ciussu.
According to our information, the patient at the Roberval hospital is of indigenous origin.
A situation involving one of our employees who allegedly made an inappropriate gesture towards a patient hospitalized at the Roberval hospital was quickly brought to our attention on Tuesday. […] As soon as management was made aware of the alleged act, action was immediately taken. The employee in question was met on Wednesday and an external investigation was requested to shed light on what happened next. The employee was suspended Wednesday afternoon and will remain so for the duration of the investigation
, informed Pierre-Alexandre Maltais by email.
No information was transmitted regarding the nature of the act allegedly committed by the employee.
We wish to reiterate that we condemn any form of inappropriate gesture towards all users.
, continued the spokesperson.
The suspension comes as public hearings are being held on the death of Joyce Echaquan, an Indigenous person who died at Joliette hospital in September 2020. The Atikamekw in Manawan had broadcast a live footage on Facebook where employees, since suspended, had insulted her. She died shortly after. The investigation led by coroner Géhane Kamel aims to shed light on these events.
Files in the region
Last April, a woman of Atikamekw origin lodged a complaint against two employees of the Roberval hospital. She claimed that a patient care attendant had insulted and threatened her for a matter of revealing her identity. The other employee targeted was a nurse who allegedly injured her arm while taking the pressure, without apologizing. An external investigation was then also requested.
The investigation is over, said Pierre-Alexandre Maltais in a telephone interview early Wednesday evening. The bottom line is that there is nothing that has been used against our employees in this matter.
In another file affecting the region, in October 2020, an external investigation had also confirmed that the Chicoutimi hospital had nothing to be ashamed of with regard to the provision of care and services to George- Hervey Awashish, a resident of Obedjiwan. The complainant, who died a few days after filing a complaint, said he heard healthcare workers make fun of him. His complaint related to allegations of racism and death threats.
A new cultural awareness tool
In addition, the Cégep de Chicoutimi called the media on Thursday morning to launch a new cultural awareness tool aimed at better training future health professionals who will have to work in an Aboriginal context. The virtual press conference will take place in the presence of the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador, Ghislain Picard.
With information from Gabrielle Morissette
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