The Coalition for Quality Health and Social Services (CSSSQ) is concerned about the harmful consequences that the law could have due to the obligation to speak French to newcomers who may have limited knowledge of the language. In an open letter issued Wednesday, the CSSSQ said the current version of the bill “could endanger people’s lives or have a negative effect on mental health if implemented.” “It is quite difficult to understand information under stressful conditions, adding unnecessary barriers will only increase this risk and undermine the ability of providers to provide optimal care,” wrote the team, which includes 500 doctors and health professionals. and about 30 other organizations. . The reform of Bill 101 tabled by French Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette proposes that public services communicate exclusively in French with immigrants six months after their arrival in Quebec. An exception is provided “where required by health, public safety or the principles of natural justice”. “Citizens will continue to have access to health care,” a spokesman for the minister’s office told the Canadian press. “There is nothing in the bill that will stop the Quebec people from seeking treatment.” For Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, who works with refugees in the Quebec area, asking health professionals to speak to this clientele in French after six months is “completely unrealistic.” “It’s a clientele that is vulnerable,” he said. “80 percent of them do not speak either French or English when they arrive.” “Some have been in refugee camps for 20 years, they have alphabets different from ours. Some have little education and are older,” said Gagnon, co-founder of the Refugee Health Clinic at CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.
“EVERY WORD IS IMPORTANT”
Communication is an essential element in treating patients, said Gagnon, who often has to call interpreters – sometimes speaking English – during her appointments. “If the person has a fragment in the finger, we can fix it,” he said, but complex cases include nuances and subtle nuances. “If we have to talk about sensitive issues such as mental health problems, children with behavioral problems that we need to include protecting young people, depression, withdrawal of care, every word is important. “If half our people understand, all of this can go very wrong, lead to medical errors and even death,” Gagnon said. Although he considers it important to encourage the French facility among newcomers, he says the responsibility should not fall on healthcare providers. Minister Jolin Barrette’s office says Bill 96 does not stipulate that the law on health and social services “remains intact”. – This report from the Canadian Press was first published in French on April 13, 2022. –This article was created with the financial support of Meta Fellowships and the Canadian Press for News.
