Death of Joyce Echaquan: "The Worst Face of Racism"

Elizabeth Bratton writes about the recent death of Joyce Echaquan: an Indigenous Canadian woman who died in hospital, having expressed concerns about her medical treatment. Echaquan livestreamed her hospital experience, as she endured horrific verbal abuse, and eventually died. Investigations surrounding the cause of death are currently ongoing, but relatives maintain that this is the face of systemic racism.

Joyce Echaquan died on September 28th, 2020. The 37-year-old member of the Atikamekw tribe had been admitted to a Joliette hospital in Quebec after experiencing stomach pain.

credit: APTN News

Fearing she had been administered too much morphine, Echaquan livestreamed her hospital experience on Facebook. Relatives allege Echaquan was allergic to morphine: something they believe may have contributed to her death. Video footage shows the mother-of-seven screaming in agony, as hospital staff hurl verbal insults in the background.

One nurse jibed, “You’re stupid as hell. Are you done acting stupid? Are you done?” They continued, “She’s good at having sex, more than anything else.” Another employee criticised the patient’s “bad choices” and asked what her children would think of her condition. Echaquan was even told she would be “better off dead”. As the abuse persisted, Echaquan’s cries did too.

At least one nurse has since been fired; both Quebec’s coroner office and the local health board have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding Echaquan’s death. Marc Miller, federal Indigenous services minister, decried “the worst face of racism”, elaborating: “this is someone who is at their most vulnerable. And they are dying, having heard racist words expressed towards them.” Miller refuses to believe this is an “isolated” incident. In June of this year, British Columbia health staff were accused of playing a “game” in which they guessed the alcohol level of Indigenous patients’ blood.

Echaquan’s death serves as a disturbing reminder of the disproportionate levels of abuse towards Indigenous Canadians. Activist Frances Elizabeth Moore tweeted, “I’m not sure I can adequately explain how watching the video of #JoyceEchaquan’s last moments is weighing on me. As an Indigenous woman [with] chronic illnesses the treatment she endured is my ultimate fear.” Moore has previously asked friends to accompany her to medical appointments, as she “did not feel safe going alone”. She described Echaquan’s decision to film her treatment as “heroic”, and concluded: “Rest well sister.”

Quebec Premier François Legault has repeatedly rejected claims that systemic racism exists within his province. After learning of Echaquan’s death, he declared: “The nurse, what she said, is totally unacceptable, it’s racist and she was fired. We must fight this racism.” However, he added: “I really don’t think we have this kind of way of dealing with First Nations people in our hospitals in Quebec, Yes there is some racism in Quebec. We’re working on that.”

This denial of systemic racism completely contradicts the findings of a 2019 government report. Researchers learnt that Indigenous Canadians find it difficult to trust the healthcare system, as “the unequal power relationships and differentiated access to health services undermine Indigenous authority, governance and autonomy, hamper their own efforts and actions in the area of health, and eliminate all possibility of a complementary, harmonious relationship between Indigenous people and public services.”

Echaquan is remembered by her husband, Carol Dubé, as someone who “paid attention to the littlest things”. Addressing federal government officials in Ottawa, he pleaded: “I’m asking you to give me some answers. Because all I’ve gotten are questions and condolences, but no answers.” He continued, “I need to know what happened. It’s my children that have lost the most. I wasn’t even able to tell her I love her nor hold her hand until the end.”

Dubé is “convinced” that his wife’s death was a result of racism, which “contaminated” the hospital. He has thanked activists from around the world for their support; in a video address to GoFundMe contributors, he said: “I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and everything that has been done for my wife and my family.” Dubé concluded: “You guys have a big heart and I will prove to you guys that I also have a big heart. Thank you again! We are all sisters and brothers and we will stand by each other!”