Globe article: Quebec politicizes its health care system

In Quebec, the language is political. It was that way before the province enacted the French Language Convention, called Bill 101, in 1977, and it has remained that way for almost fifty years since then.

But with two referendums and all the confused arguments about the use of English in demonstrations, the right to English education, about whether pasta can be called “pasta” in an Italian restaurant, etc., the Quebec government you have not entered a clear language. politics in an area where people are most vulnerable and most need support – the health system.

So far, yes.

Last month, Quebec’s health department issued an order detailing the exemptions allowed in the expansion of Bill 101 which requires that all written and oral communications in any health care setting – a doctor’s office, emergency room, delivery room, doctor’s chair – only in French. .

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge insisted this week that people will still be able to get care in English and other languages ​​if they need it, but the existence of a decree insisting on the need to use only French by listing a limited number of models. exceptions send a different message.

It also doesn’t help that this list is incredibly specific and focuses on cases where refusing care in one’s native language would be inhumane—and possibly medical malpractice.

They included: a non-French speaking father who brings his seriously ill 10-year-old son to the emergency room can be asked in English for permission to treat the child in order to prevent any delays ; an emergency operator who receives a call from an English-speaking young person in a state of psychosis can answer the person in English; the Ukrainian partner of a recovering patient who needs a catheter can take home printed instructions for changing the catheter in their language.

Writing these things down seems at once scary and intimidating. Why is it necessary to state that an ER doctor would choose to obtain consent for life-saving treatment in English from a distraught, monolingual parent? Why is it also necessary to mention that a telephone operator may choose to answer a distressed caller in his own language?

Those things should be done as they would be done elsewhere. It is the responsibility of every multilingual authority to do their best to provide emergency services and health care in as many languages ​​as possible.

What the health ministry’s order means is that Quebec is doing its long-standing multilingualism and growing immigrant population an unwelcome favor.

The same document takes pains to remind health workers that they can only provide care to immigrants in their language for the first six months after they arrive in Quebec. And it says that English-speaking Quebeckers who have lived there all their lives can only deal with English if they have a certificate from the ministry of education that says they have the right to attend English-language schools – a process that A deck of cards. .

Otherwise, the order says the health care system must operate “formally” in French, and all initial communication must be conducted in that language. This applies to hospitals that are given bilingual status because they serve a specific community, such as the General Jewish Hospital and the Santa Cabrini Hospital, where Italian is spoken.

There is no doubt that doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers in Quebec will not stop for a second to double-check what language they are allowed to use in an emergency; they will always try to do the best for the patients, despite the officials from the Office québécois de la langue française looking over their shoulders.

But the government does not want the needs of patients to come first, no matter the risk. Its politicization of language in the health care system, despite the good intentions of the staff, can reduce or stop the treatment needed to save a person’s life, and it causes a crisis.

That is not acceptable. Hospitals and doctors should be left to decide how to care for patients, and patients have a right to expect that the language they happen to speak will not affect their care. The only command that should come from any government is, Do what is right.