Medical Science vs 'Social Justice'?

"[The 2025 framework for training future physicians] affords us the opportunity to think critically and propose a vision for the practice of medicine which is rooted in social justice, anti-racism, anti-oppression and cultural safety, promoting a broader cultural shift which is necessary for the profession."

"A new model of CanMEDS would seek to centre values such as anti-oppression, anti-racism and social justice, rather than medical expertise."

"[The new system envisioned] would prioritize bidirectional relationships with patients, providers, communities, the land, the health system and society at large rather than the individual physician as a gatekeeper of professionalized knowledge. With this new model, we can reflect a stance of humility over hubris."

Anti-racism working group

"In daily practice, [DEI] is barely given a nod. We are overwhelmed by the volume of patients that need care on a daily basis."

"Our work has bled into our evenings and weekends leaving very little time to think about what seems to be both a political and academic exercise. You can imagine the chaos that would ensue if patients were queued based on perceived oppression as opposed to the acuity of their medical condition."

"The vast majority of physicians have entered the field in order to care for others. There is an abundance of empathy and kindness among my colleagues."

"[DEI] has tried to piggyback on these noble traits and impose a social justice agenda that is driven by only a handful of activist physicians." 

Dr. David Jacobs, president, Ontario Association of Radiologists

AAMC.org

 

It was only a matter of time, after all. The overwhelming social agenda of diversity-equality-inclusion activists determined to change societal norms and to have everyone everywhere condemn 'colonialist'  and 'imperialist' racism in all its guises, where those judged white have been privileged and entitled for far too long, and it's now the turn of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour to be advantaged over white entitlement, has entered government at all levels, schools and universities, the professional bodies, unions and every other facet of society.

Now, it seems, it's the turn of the medical profession. A profession overwhelmed by the demands of its services on a growing public that cannot find primary care physicians, reflective of the shortages of medical professionals. Who themselves are beyond fatigue working long hours, trying to compensate for the dearth of family doctors, coping with infuriating government paperwork; underpaid and feeling under-appreciated. Now, a final assault on their consciousness, to imbibe the social justice message to incorporate it thoroughly in all their experiences with the public.

Under the auspices of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a working group is opting to push for the training of future doctors to concentrate on social justice and anti-racism; medical expertise, evidently, is optional. Move over, Enlightenment ideals of science and reason; Marxist ideology is preparing to take over...

AAMC.org

 

CanMEDs is implemented by a consortium including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, the Medical Council of Canada and the Quebec College of Physicians, as well as others. According to the anti-racism working group that reports to CanMED, the medical profession is described in their report as committing "structural violence" against the marginalized. Leading to its authors proposing a social justice solution to be implemented within the health system.

In one section of the report entitled "Decentering medical expertise", a shift away from medical expertise is called for, toward values such as anti-racism, anti-oppression, shared humanity and decolonization. What could go wrong? This "humility over hubris" concept represents the virtue of the caring and compassionate working group, deploring their haughty, pride-filled colleagues. Another section in the report calls for recognition that historical power structures such as "white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy and capitalism" inform the present, and something desperately must be done to change it.

AAMC.org

 

In Dr. Jacobs' opinion the cult of diversity, equality and inclusion strives to alter medicine from a discipline caring for patients to one championing social justice -- to the extreme detriment of the former, and therefore to society at large. Aside from which, the entire concept is the product of disturbed minds. ("This is bonkers") The goal of medicine is to train doctors in medical competency. In the world of DEI, doctors are to be "tested for 'purity of thought'."

"Equity is about recognizing and accommodating people’s differences to ensure that every individual has what they need to thrive. In the background to its policy on equity and diversity in medicine Opens in a new window, the CMA says equity is achieved when 'every person has the opportunity, with their own identity, culture, and characteristics, to create and sustain a career as, or receive care from, a medical professional without discrimination or any other cultural or characteristic-related negative bias or barrier'."

Canadian Medical Association Website

Hitting all the right notes in intersectionality; female and Black...Canadian Medical Association website

"Beyond the obvious worrisome impact on patients, there is also an impact on physicians' freedom of expression and thought."

"[DEI] is governed and policed by a small unelected and unaccountable group that is using the authority of universities and medical governing bodies to establish what is acceptable and what is unacceptable thought."

"[Medicine should return to embracing respect and partnership with patients, and] strongly reject those who would try to weave their political and social agenda into the doctor-patient relationship."

Dr. David Jacobs

Publicly state and reaffirm its support for diversity in medical education and acknowledge the incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts as a vital aspect of medical training.

Directly oppose any local, state or federal actions that aim to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, curriculum requirements or funding in medical education.

Advocate for resources to establish and maintain DEI offices at medical schools that are staff managed and student- and physician-guided as well as committed to longitudinal community engagement.

Investigate the impacts of state legislation regarding DEI-related efforts on the education and careers of students, trainees and faculty.

American Medical Association

Saint Justin Slaying the Anti-Equality Dragon

"[Crown Prince] Mohammad bin Salman was trying to send a message that he is not to be disrespected by anyone. Unfortunately, many Saudi students who were in Canada are paying a heavy price."
"Investors are looking more askance at Saudi Arabia, and none of this helps Saudi relations with the rest of the world."
Paul Sullivan, Saudi specialist, Georgetown University, Washington

"Canada is back," Trudeau mugged for the world's cameras at the signing of the Paris Accord in 2015. "We're Canadian," Trudeau told the U.N. General Assembly the following year, "and we're here to help." (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

When the smiley-face ebullience of Justin Trudeau, Margaret's "Golden Boy", was loosed on the world stage as Canada's spanking new prime minister he presented as an antidote to the taciturn, capable, resolute and intelligent Stephen Harper with whom the voting public had tired. How the public spirit soared at the prospect of this handsome young man with the temerity to offer himself as a public service to Canada with his great experience in drama and snowboarding excited expectations!

"Sunny ways" did it, Justin winked, as he boasted on the world stage introducing himself to other world leaders, that "Canada is back". Since then, we have learned that the Canada that never went away has shifted backward. Canada has become the world's silly clown, alternating between espousing progressive values and changing the social contract and its language, alerting 90 percent of the population that due diligence must be paid forward in soothing the emotional baggage of the dissatisfied ten percent as their due.

As for Canada's reputation abroad, it has become somewhat of a laughing stock, an administration that busies itself morally strong-arming its counterparts to give obeisance where it is due; Canada's version of social, cultural, international, economic imperatives to hoist the status of women and the traditionally socially-impoverished in a mission of achieving total equality.

Stephen Harper's cabinet gained close to parity between the genders, but Justin Trudeau appointed women to cabinet posts based on gender alone, it seemed not necessarily suitable qualifications which he deemed to be expendable; he had none, why would they require any?

Now it is attempting to placate the rage it inspired in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland demanded that the Saudis release a rights activist instanter. Liberal Party supporters like SNC-Lavalin, the Canadian unit of General Dynamics Corp., McCain Foods Ltd., and others stand to suffer as a result of a breach in relations whereby Canada's ambassador to the Kingdom was expelled, investments curbed, Saudi medical students recalled; a giant rebuff to Canada for interfering in Saudi Arabia's internal affairs.

Globally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly being regarded as a pain in the arse, his virtue-signalling fails to impress internationally just as it is beginning finally to pall at home. When Trudeau jabbed China and India in trade discussions with his expectations on women's and minority rights he failed to endear himself and Canada to potential free trade partners. This, in addition to the sad state of Canada's third-class status in NAFTA negotiations, where once again Chrystia Freeland has assaulted the sensibilities of the U.S. top trade negotiator; a trading partnership made in hell.

So, sigh, what went wrong? Well, just about everything. The shining new prime minister who promised that his administration would tend to bolstering Canada's reputation abroad, take back its revolving seat in the United Nations, bolster the military and respond to peacekeeping requests has just been slapped down by the Organization for Economic Cooperation for its failure to restore foreign aid commitments to the level it enjoyed under the Harper government.

Trudeau seemed to think his considerable charm and celebrity could mollify Trump in the early days of his presidency. (Christinne Muschi/Reuters)

France, Unbowed

"When asked recently what was France's main problem, French Secretary of the Interior Gérard Collomb spoke of the feeling of 'exclusion' among many "youths". He said the solution was 'social projects' -- billions of euros more will be spent. Collomb did not say that hundreds of millions of euros have already been lavished on 'social projects' with nothing to show for the expense. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe spoke of the need to create 'deradicalization' centers, where instructors will explain that Islam is supposedly compatible with the 'values of the republic'. He did not mention that 'deradicalization' centers were created years ago and had less than no effect."
"Macron's most important project has been the creation of new Islamic institutions, apparently to adapt France to Islam -- not to adapt Islam to France. Many more mosques will be built, financed with taxpayer money; departments of Islamic culture will open in universities, and imam training centers created. His main advisor on this subject is Hakim El Karoui, the author of a book (L'islam, une religion française; 'Islam, a French Religion') explaining that Islam is now the main religion in the country; that prejudices of non-Muslims are the source of most troubles, and that helping Muslims to have access to more important positions in French society is of the utmost urgency."

"A text published in a Parisian daily not long ago spoke of an 'Islamic anti-Semitism' and 'ethnic cleansing' that were chasing Christians and Jews out of many areas. Three hundred people signed the text. Those who wrote it, carefully did not mention Islam itself, but 'Islamist radicalism' instead.
It became immediately clear that they had gone way too far. Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, said that the text was 'insane' and vile. Amar Lasfar, president of 'Muslims of France' [the French branch of the Muslim Brotherhood], added that the authors of the text were 'maleficent ignoramuses' who had insulted all Muslims. Intellectuals on the left [many of them Jews] published an article saying that 'Islam is not guilty', and that those who do accuse Islam create the risk of civil war. Silence quickly returned."
Dr. Guy Millière, professor, University of Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in Washington, DC on April 25, 2018. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

"[Good work on the part of police who] neutralized the terrorist."
"France is once again paying the price of blood but will not cede an inch to enemies of freedom."
French President Emmanuel Macron

"Police surrounded him and I really thought that would stop him, but not at all. He literally jumped at the police. He was so determined."
"He was small, slim, longish hair, like all the fashionable young, a three-day beard. He did not stand out. He was dressed normally. Never in my life would I have thought he was going to attack."
Witness to May 12 knife-wielding attack, Paris

"The attacker was walking in the street, armed with a knife. He had a lot of blood on his hands. He was walking in the road and stopping at all the shops. He was threatening everyone who crossed his path."
"He threatened a woman and her companion came to defend her and was threatened as well. Then he moved on to the next restaurant and attacked it. I wasn’t particularly worried, I was under the impression he was mad or drugged up."
Jonathan, waiter, witness to attack

A forensic officer and a police officer stand next to a numbered reference index pad and a camera on a tripod near the scene of the crime in Paris. Photograph: Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images

Can France be saved from itself? The France of tolerance and brotherhood. The understanding, empathetic France that feels its citizens of foreign derivation will eventually meld into France society, adopt the culture, respect the heritage, obey the laws and take pride in citizenship. Their dedication to hard work and faithfulness to France's values will make of them invaluable additions to a France that prides itself on its ability to fashion a pluralistic society of shared aspirations.

Of course that's the France dedicated to equality, fraternity and liberty, the France that gives Emmanuel Macron the smug look of certainty that no other country epitomizes those values to the degree that France does, and no president before him has been as dedicated to welcoming Muslims to share all the traditions that have made France great. So certain he is that he is prepared to overlook the realities of France, the unapproachable banlieus with their resentful and violent youth, the intelligence lists of those singled out as potential threats.

Singled out, identified, and then full stop. Suspicions are not analogous to the commission of crimes. What appear as possible future threats cannot be treated by law as assurances that they will become the threats so feared, targeting the stability of French society, setting out to commit yet another scene of mass carnage, shocking the citizenry and giving yet another headache to the authorities who may experience discomfort with the unspoken certainty that nothing can prevent the inevitable.

"At this stage, based on the one hand on the account of witnesses who said the attacker cried 'Allahu akbar' (God is great in Arabic) while attacking passersby with a knife, and given the modus operandi, we have turned this over to the counterterrorist section of the Paris prosecutors's office."
Prosecutor Francois Molins

When the young man born in Chechnya, settled in France with his family and outwardly conforming to French social mores attacked with a knife he uttered the familiar "Allahu Akbar!", signalling his Islamist dedication. In comparison with fatal traffic accidents, one supposes that the 200 people who met their death in France in recent years through Islamist jihadi attacks, is not a horrendously high figure. It is, however, the method of their death, what that method signifies, and the shock tremors running through society known as terror that is high in cost.

This attack killed one unfortunate 29-year-old man, two others badly wounded, and another two injured. The attacker was also killed by responding police. The well-synchronized and deadly attacks of November 2015 killed 130 in one night of bloody carnage, on the other hand. So perhaps it's not so much the death toll as it is the uncertainty, the emotional disequilibrium hanging over people's heads, that they could be anywhere at all, in the safety of anonymity in crowds of people and yet be vulnerable to a death attack.

Good people the world over censure those attacks, view with alarm, concern and fear a phenomenon that brings uncertainty to life. Unless, that is, you live in Israel, and a Palestinian wields the knife and then the censure lands on the victim not the perpetrator because the perpetrator is a victim and the targeted victim is an 'occupier' of a land mass once its own but now in question. Oddly enough, France's legitimacy as a nation built by the French, honouring their heritage, is now too in question.

Since its Muslim population has it earmarked for Islamic domination in its march toward conquest and the universal caliphate that Islamic sacred texts illuminate as the duty of all faithful to strive toward. And they are doing the best they can to fulfill their obligations, as we can see time and again, here and there, wherever least expected since though they're on a list of suspicious might-be terrorists no action can be taken until it's too late.

French police at the site of the knife attack near Opera Garnier in Paris. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Refugee Sponsorship in Canada : Mutual Obligations

"Unlike any other refugee populations, social media and mobile applications are very commonly used by the Syrian refugees and the population who are actively connected to each other via mobile devices, specifically WhatsApp."
"Refugees were comparing what Syrian friends received in terms of services in other cities and provinces and requested equivalent services and support."
"Many partners and stakeholders were concerned about the [Syrian] youth group [which had experienced a lapse in their education and might find it a future challenge to both fit in to Canadian society and find employment]."
"The perception was that given the integration challenges mentioned above, this group could become disenfranchised and have a harder time developing a sense of belonging to their communities."
Government of Canada report

Syrian refugees line up at the processing centre in Amman, Jordan, where they will meet with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) employees on Dec. 13, 2015.  MCpl Bernie Kuhn / Canadian Forces

"If instances of sponsors asking refugees to pay for their own sponsorship come to our attention, we will investigate."
"However, we will not comment on any investigations which may be underway."
Remi Lariviere, Immigration Department spokesman

"Large-scale refugee movements place pressure on health-care systems, both in their immediate response and as part of long-term resettlement efforts."
"As Syrians integrate into Canada, meeting their longer-term, health-care needs will call for a seamless network of health-care providers, supported by community partners."
"[Some children arrived with illnesses including cancers, seizures and developmental disorders. Malnutrition and children with intellectual disabilities were also observed at a rate higher than in the general Canadian population]."
"[In Toronto, more than 500 dental emergencies were addressed. Patients of all ages had severe mouth diseases, unable to sleep or eat because of pain.]"  
Canadian Communicable Disease Report study

A recently published government study began with an evaluation by the Immigration Department of the refugee program to settle Syrians through privately sponsored programs which saw 8,918 refugees arriving in Canada between November 2014 and March of 2017, of whom 581 wee interviewed. Twenty-three of those surveyed stated they had paid for the completion of their sponsorship application or for the provision of their personal support in Canada; in some instances being asked to give payment.

This is an illegal situation since private sponsorship groups are not meant to accept or to require that any funds be supplied by a refugee for submitting a sponsorship. It is not just Syrians, according to the report, who have ended up paying sponsors. Privately sponsored refugees arriving from elsewhere in the world surveyed for a previously-undertaken study had divulged that 19 of 451 refugees that paid for their sponsorship, as well. On the other hand, on a private note, it seems entirely reasonable if the refugees have the financial wherewithal, that they be expected to help support themselves.

In the evaluation of the first wave of Syrians documentation comparable with other refugee groups, it was divulged that some Syrians are less educated and are possessed of a more meagre proficiency of one of the two Canadian official languages, both indices which are meant to identify ideal characteristics for welcoming immigrants and refugees to Canada. Syrians, through this enquiry, were also revealed to have larger families and a lower state of awareness of Canadian rights and freedoms than refugees from other groups.

All of which might mark them as less than ideal candidates for migration to and absorption into Canadian society. These are also recognized factors that contribute to additional settlement challenges, (as, for example, a greater financial investment in supporting larger families) which, when added to the popularity among Syrian refugees of social media, has resulted in an additional complication; the expectation among Syrian refugees to Canada of certain services that they feel they are entitled to.

It was also established that only ten percent of adult government-assisted Syrian refugees had found employment, a number which government officials feel to be comparable with other refugee population groups assisted by government for settlement in Canada. September marked the 13th month of the initial group of refugees being situated in Canada, significant since refugees can expect financial support from the federal government or private sponsors for a twelve-month period before they are expected to become independent.

Those not yet self-supporting theoretically can ask for provincial social assistance, to receive welfare  benefits. The estimate is that from March 2017 approximately 1,890 to 2,005 Syrian adults would be eligible to access provincial welfare. The burden on the Canadian taxpayer, from the moment the estimated 40,000 Syrian refugees entered Canada and received financial support for housing, food, medical care, language and job training and education, straining all public welfare systems in the process, now extends to funding in some of the same spheres through provincial welfare.

But it is the future trajectory of the capacity of the Syrian refugees to accept Canadian cultural and social values, to join the mainstream of self-sufficient and law-abiding citizenry that will represent the true test of the wisdom of bringing in to a country dedicated to equality, fundamental human rights entitlements, protection of rights and freedoms, a pluralistic society and economic opportunities having succeeded or failed.

Traditional Muslim-on-Muslim Dysfunction

"I know this guy very well. I know him because he comes to our mosque in Mississauga. ... He's not a violent guy. He's not a bad person."
"But in Pakistan people do these things. They should not be doing it."
Imam Syed Soharwardy, chair, Mississauga mosque

Members of the #Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in #Chakwal #Pakistan attacked at their mosque by a mob of nearly a thousand - NO ARRESTS MADE!

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11:04 AM - 12 Dec 2016

In Chakwal, Pakistan, an estimated thousand enraged Sunni Muslim Pakistanis attacked a mosque representing minority Ahmadiyya Muslims. A petition was filed with police by locals who had made the claim that "infidels" had taken possession of the building, and "we will be forced to take extreme measures to liberate this mosque" if official action was not taken. The name of Haji Malik Rashid Ahmed, a Pakistani-Canadian who has lived in Canada for 40 years was the lead name on the petition.

According to a website operated by the Ahmadiyya community, this man had urged action at mosques around Chakwal. The issue of a Canadian spurring an attack against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan was brought to the attention of Global Affairs Canada (formerly Foreign Affairs Canada) by concerned members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada, representing Canadian Ahmadiyya Muslims, in hopes that officials would take note and possibly take action.

Ahmadiyya Muslims are peaceful, inclusive and proud Canadians. It is illegal for them to suffer any kind of discrimination in Canada; their equality rights are guaranteed under the Constitution. But in Pakistan Ahmadiyya Muslims are prohibited by law from "indirectly or directly posing as a Muslim", from publicly propagating or making any manner of declaration relating to ther faith, from building mosques, or from referring to their mosques as such, or from public calls to prayer.

They have also suffered violence from Muslims who consider them to be apostates from Islam whose deserving fate is "wajib ul qatl" (required to be killed). A week ago, because of a sense of the growing threat gathering against them, the Ahmadiyya community in Chakwal had written to their local government requesting that security be posted at their mosques. They had, in their letter, conveyed the information that Muslim scholars "from outside" had "incited to violence" with the intention "to take forcible possession" of Ahmadiyya places of worship on December 12.

And this appears, on Monday, to describe the intention of the attackers who threw stones and bricks, firing shots in an effort to forcibly take possession of the Ahmadiyya mosque. The Ahmadiyya Muslims who were in the mosque at the time locked themselves within until police eventually arrived, dispersing the attackers. Without, we can see, making any arrests. Since, obviously, the Pakistani mainstream Sunni Muslims were only engaged in what the law outlawing the Ahmadiyya as legitimate Muslims, provokes them to do.

The government of Punjab, no doubt embarrassed that the event had received international attention, wrote on Twitter that "a misunderstanding developed between the two groups", and that the authorities were "vigilantly following up". While the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad went out of its way to cravenly diplomatically sooth the situation by commending the government of Punjab "for undertaking to hold mob leaders in Chakwal to account".

How will Canada hold a Pakistani-Canadian to account? It wasn't that long ago that another Pakistani insisted on her right to wear a niqab covering her face on the solemn occasion of a citizenship ceremony granting her citizenship. Simply put, those people who are not prepared to accept and honour Canadian values of equality and mutual respect are not suitable candidates for Canadian citizenship.