An Ontario hospital network says it will conduct an “extensive review” of an incident in which an elderly Sikh patient was shaved last month without permission from him or his family and in violation of his religious principles.
According to the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), a non-profit organization that represents Sikhs in Canada, staff at Brampton Civic Hospital shaved Joginder Singh Kaler, 85, a patient who is a practising Sikh, on either Aug. 28 or 29 “in violation of his religious principles and personal dignity.”
Kaler had never shaved or cut his beard in his life before this incident, the organization said.
The WSO said Kaler was unconscious and could not provide consent himself. It said the hospital contacted Kaler’s family to obtain permission to shave him but his family refused the request.
The William Osler Health System said in a statement on Wednesday it is taking the situation very seriously.
“Osler strives to deliver safe and compassionate care for every patient we serve, and we are sorry and deeply concerned when we do not meet the standard our patients and their families expect and deserve,” said spokesperson Jim Schembri in the statement.
“Osler respects the religious rights and freedoms of all Canadians, and supports a positive, inclusive, and safe environment while caring for our community and each other with kindness, empathy and understanding,” he added.
Schembri said he could not comment on individual experiences out of respect for patient privacy, but that the review of the incident would be in keeping with the health system’s quality review processes.
“Osler is continually improving processes and clinical practices to ensure all patients receive compassionate, high-quality care.”
World Sikh Organization ‘shocked’ by incident
Shaving or removal of hair is a violation of the beliefs of practicing Sikhs, the WSO said. Unshorn hair and beards are one of the five articles of faith for baptized Sikhs.
In a news release on Wednesday, the WSO said it wrote to Dr. Frank Martino, CEO of the William Osler Health System, to express its shock and outrage over the “troubling incident.”
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the incident that took place with Mr. Kaler,” WSO President Danish Singh said in the release.
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“Despite specific instructions by his family not to shave him, Mr. Kaler still had his faith violated in such an egregious fashion. Given that Brampton is home to the largest Sikh population in Canada, it is inconceivable that such disregard for Sikh faith practices could occur at Brampton Civic Hospital,” Singh said.
The WSO said the incident has caused the family to be emotionally distressed during a time that is already challenging.
The WSO said it has offered to provide cultural sensitivity training to health care providers to prevent such incidents. The health system did not comment on this offer.
Family told shaving was ‘mistake,’ relative says
Jasjit Dhaliwal, Kaler’s son-in-law, said his father-in-law fell down about 15 steps onto a hard floor around July 26, leaving him unconscious.
Kaler was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital, then transferred to the trauma centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, where he was treated for about a month. He suffered internal bleeding in his head, fractured his skull in three places, fractured his jaw and his ribs and broke one of his arms, Dhaliwal said.
Staff at St. Michael’s Hospital asked if they could shave Kaler’s facial hair, but the family did not give consent and it was not done, he said. St. Michael’s Hospital operated on his jaw, he said. Later, Kaler, who is still unconscious, was transferred back to Brampton Civic Hospital.
Dhaliwal said the family then received a call from Brampton Civic Hospital asking if staff could shave Kaler’s face but that no reason was provided. The family explained that members of the Sikh religion do not cut or shave their hair unless there is a medical reason.
The family refused to give consent and the caller said, ‘OK,’ he added.
“Next day, my sister-in-law goes to visit him and he was clean shaved,” Dhaliwal said.
He said his sister-in-law asked hospital staff why and was told, “We’re sorry. It was a mistake.”
When family members asked a doctor, he apparently said that was not his department and it was up to the nurses.
Dhaliwal said the hospital did not issue an apology. The family waited for one, then contacted the WSO.
“Brampton had no medical reason at that time. None was provided to us,” he said. “They just did what they wanted to do, I guess.”
He said the hospital needs to educate its staff about religious practices.
Incident a ‘very serious cultural violation,’ prof says
Kerry Bowman, a bioethics professor at the University of Toronto, said he was horrified to hear of the incident and surprised because many hospitals have come a long way with cultural awareness. His doctoral research was in the area of cultural sensitivity.
“This is a very serious cultural violation,” Bowman said. “There clearly was not consent. The argument cannot be made that they weren’t able to access consent. They didn’t have consent.”
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Bowman added, however, that he doesn’t have all the details and that health care systems are under a lot of strain following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But on the surface of it, I’m very shocked, I’m very surprised,” he said. “It’s very, very worrisome.”