In this second of a two-part series, we speak to Dr. Jennifer Kwan. She’s a family physician and health care advocate in Burlington, Ontario who describes the abuse as “hateful, sexist and racist.”
In this second of a two-part series, we speak to Dr. Jennifer Kwan. She’s a family physician and health care advocate in Burlington, Ontario who describes the abuse as “hateful, sexist and racist.”
OMA Podcast with Dr. Jennifer Kwan
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Georgia Balogiannis: In this podcast the Ontario Medical Association looks at current issues of interest in health care. Spotlight on Health gives you all the straight talk. We're Ontario's doctors and your health matters to us.
I'm Georgia Balogiannis for the Ontario Medical Association.
Doctors are calling for an end to the bullying, attacks and threats of violence many on health care’s front lines have been subjected to throughout the pandemic, and which have escalated to new levels.
In this second of a two-part series we speak to Dr. Jennifer Kwan. She’s a family physician and health care advocate in Burlington, Ontario who describes the abuse as “hateful, sexist and racist.”
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Dr. Jennifer Kwan: Although most people have been very appreciative and supportive of the work of health-care workers and physicians, it has been a very challenging year for everyone and not just physicians but for many people, and I feel that there is some misdirected anger towards health-care workers.
I certainly did not expect that asking people to wear masks during a pandemic of respiratory virus would become so divisive and controversial and would result in aggressive comments and threats.
During the pandemic we are recommending masks and vaccines and that our public health measures to the public and, most of the time it is, you know the recommendations are followed, but often times not.
And then we also hear back from the patients who unfortunately may be facing the consequences of these actions, for example, getting infected or hospitalized or even pass away.
It’s kind of demoralizing because, you know, we really try our best to provide the best recommendations for patients and this kind of advice might not be followed.
Speaking about vaccinations has certainly worsened and increased the number of offensive comments.
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Dr. Kwan: Despite avoiding political discussions and sticking to facts and data, there has also still been very many hateful messages, including emails and calls to my clinic.
Unfortunately, I have also faced many hateful sexist and racist remarks. For example, messages saying that women should not be listening to or accusations of working for some foreign governments or for spreading propaganda. There are also threats about going to jail or facing criminal charges are going on trial just for speaking about public health recommendations.
Most of the threats I’ve experienced have been virtual because of the nature of my work on social media.
There has been very few in-person interactions, although I can recall, even working, at the vaccination clinic in Burlington, there have been some aggressive comments.
There was also, unfortunately, some comments like saying that I look the same as all the other Asian health-care workers. Things like that, so it was kind of awful.
And unfortunately, it's also my staff that work in a clinic that can face some harassment from people calling in.
I just want to encourage again that everyone understands that everyone is also going through challenges, including health-care workers, and we really are doing our best to support one another and to protect the members of the public.
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Dr. Jennifer Kwan: My colleagues and I have had to take precautions to ensure the safety of ourselves, our patients, and our stuff on not just that work, but also at home.
There has been, you know changes that I had to make to my clinic policies.
We have a zero-tolerance policy. We have instructions in place for staff to contact the police immediately if there's certain people that they see. So, we have created these kind of safety measures. And I’ve also tried to share this with other people who may be advocates on social media, for example, avoiding posting any personal information that can be very helpful because you don't want you know too much information out there you don't know who will have their hands on that.
Other advocates and I have been very supportive of one another, and we've been able to connect, including to share ideas on how to maintain privacy, and joining together to form a cohesive voice to speak up for what is right.
We will continue to advocate in order to improve the well being and health of all Canadians and as physicians. Caring for patients and the public will always be our priority
despite what threats or harassment, we may be facing.
I know that we as health-care workers do receive a lot of support and this very much outweighs the negative comments, and we're very appreciative people who do continue to care and help one another.
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Dr. Kwan: It has been a privilege for me to be able to advocate for the safety of Ontario and Canadians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would say the positive outcome the pandemic is that I feel that we are more interconnected as a community. Not just working with other health-care professionals, you know connecting with nurses and pharmacists and social workers and public health, and just everyone that has really been contributing.
We've also been able to connect with the public and expand our perspective on a broader level, to you know get people to understand their health and really become advocates for their own health and work on improving your health, not just about COVID19 but beyond the pandemic.
I do really appreciate the work of the OMA and the CMA and advocating, for you know, strategies in place to make sure that people are aware that is not acceptable to harass health-care workers and whether that is on a policy level or law enforcement level, I think that health-care workers and advocates deserve to feel protected and safe, even if they are speaking about public health recommendations.
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Georgia Balogiannis: This podcast is brought to you by the Ontario Medical Association and is edited and produced by Jodi Crawford Productions. To learn more about the Ontario Medical Association, please visit oma.org
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