April 9, 2020 - Montréal's Jewish General Hospital/Hôpital général juif has announced the decision to ban all support persons for birthing and postpartum patients.
While these are extraordinary times calling for extraordinary measures (with passionate advocates on both sides) we're concerned that coverage of the policy so far has NOT centred those who will be most affected:
"Dr. Louise Miner, director of professional services and a 30-year obstetrician-gynecologist at the Jewish General, said the hospital had no choice but to take the measure last Friday to protect patients and staff.
It had tried to screen spouses for COVID-19, but some people did not disclose they had the virus, she said.
’Our hospital serves communities in this territory and outside this territory who have the highest infection rate,’ she said.
‘Unfortunately, people bypass (the screening), and just lie, and it’s only once people have been exposed that we realize that a person is symptomatic,’ she said.
‘This has happened more than once, and safety is the No. 1 concern now,’ Miner said.
It sounds like those husbands have been a real pain, but what about patients who require interpreters, a doula in lieu of a partner or loved one, Indigenous cultural support, and other important accommodations for a safe and equitable hospital experience?
Studies have confirmed that mistreatment in childbirth is a daily reality, with 1 in 6 regardless of race reporting disrespectful care. The numbers are certainly higher for BIPOC, low income folks, disabled parents, young parents, LGBTQIA2S+ parents, solo parents and many others who face bias and discrimination in the healthcare system.
This is not an issue about nice husbands and wives being separated, this is a policy that disproportionately impacts those who are already most at risk of getting inadequate support at a time when nursing staff are stretched thin.
It puts marginalized folks in an even more vulnerable position without an advocate during an already vulnerable time. It paves the way for an increase in obstetric violence.
The Jewish General Hospital's website does not appear to list any information about an appeals process for patients in need of accommodation, and the coverage has not detailed whether other meaningful attempts to manage the issue of birth support were attempted before outlawing it altogether.
If you are concerned about the impact this policy will have on women, birthing folks, and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, please consider writing in to share your feedback. Contact info below:
Québec Minister of Health and Social Services/Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux: Danielle McCann ministre@msss.gouv.qc.ca Danielle.McCann.SAGU@assnat.qc.ca
Chief of Ob/Gyn Department at Jewish General Hospital: Dr. Walter Gotlieb Fax: 514-340-8619 walter.gotlieb@mcgill.ca twitter.com/GotliebW
Office of the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner of the Centre-Ouest de l'Île-de-Montréal: 514-340-8222, Ext. 24222 ombudsman.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
CIUSSS West-Central Montreal Department of Communications and Media Relations: Barry Morgan 514-340-8222 ext. 24120 barry.morgan.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Carl Thériault 514-340-8222 ext. 28424 carl.theriault.CCOMTL@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
