Second Quebec health care worker fired after Indigenous woman’s hospital death

MONTREAL – A second health-care worker has been fired in connection with the treatment of an Indigenous woman who was subjected to degrading remarks in a hospital northeast of Montreal before she died.

The regional health authority that represents the Joliette hospital confirmed today that a patient attendant who was at Joyce Echaquan’s bedside has been fired.

Before her death, the Atikamekw mother of seven filmed herself from her hospital bed while she was in clear distress and pleading for help.

Toward the end of the video, two female hospital staff can be seen entering her room and are heard making insulting comments towards Echaquan, who had been admitted with stomach pain.

The health authority previously confirmed that the nurse who was in the room was fired following the incident, which has prompted widespread public outrage and two separate investigations.

The health authority for the Lanaudiere region said in a statement that it was also working with members of the Atikamekw community to put in place concrete actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2020