Islamophobia in the Montreal Healthcare System
By Sabia Irfan and Zakia Irfan
CC BY-CC BY-ND 2.0
"They are all extremists. The religion is rigid and sensitive. Unrealistic to manage." Such remarks are just one example of the hurtful and antagonistic stereotypes inflicted upon Muslims. Islamophobia is festering in Montreal's social fabric and is slowly infecting the city's healthcare system.
The religiously diverse city of Montreal is growing a Muslim-centric population. In 2021, Statistics Canada reported that Muslims comprised 8.7% of Montreal. Simultaneously, Montreal's hospitals have consistently ranked among the best in the world, underscoring Montreal as a hub for a stellar healthcare ecosystem.
While Montreal is reputed as a leading authority in healthcare, numerous Muslims seeking treatment face irrational hostility and cultural ignorance. Islamophobia in healthcare threatens the health and dignity of Muslim patients, highlighting a growing systemic bias in medical care.
In 2021, a Quebec father reported how child protection authorities apprehended his three-day-old baby because his wife wears a hijab and does not speak French. The nurses believed the couple were uncooperative, leading the parents to often refuse treatment for their baby. The father held anti-Muslim prejudice and racism responsible for the incident.
The association of Muslims with past terrorist events, such as 9/11, has caused this community to be unfairly stereotyped as terrorists, security threats or outsiders. Visible symbols of Islam, like hijabs and other religious attire, are often targeted by religious bias, bolstered by medical institutions and healthcare providers.
Similar and many other discriminatory events are recounted in a recent study by McMaster University and the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada (MACC), which found that Muslims repeatedly experience health care discrimination related to prayer rituals, dietary restrictions, and Islamic holidays. The fearful effects of Islamophobia contribute to the avoidance of help-seeking and mistrust of healthcare systems by many Muslim patients in Montreal.
"Dedicated prayer rooms, assigning female physicians to Muslim women so they feel more comfortable being examined, and collaboration with religious leaders," states a Muslim doctoral candidate at McGill University as solutions hospitals should implement.
Clinicians must reflect on their biases toward Muslims and actively work to dismantle cultural barriers. To support this, medical institutions should require consistent training that addresses religion, culture, and ethnicity to facilitate more inclusive care, starting from the first day of medical school.
A public Discord server for Quebec pre-medical students called Med server has been recently dismantled, revealed to be harbouring anti-Muslim rhetoric through offensive posts and racist messages.
Admitting individuals with hateful views into the medical profession poses a risk to future patients from vulnerable and marginalized communities. Medical institutions should better assess applicants' commitment to cultural humility, integrate robust anti-bias education, and hold professionals accountable for discriminatory behaviour continuously throughout their careers.
Artificial intelligence and its scientific applications are currently revolutionizing medical settings. AI scribes, such as Heidi, record physician and patient conversations, summarizing the interaction into concise medical notes. AI scribes can be trained to understand and translate medical terms into languages commonly spoken in Muslim communities, such as Arabic, Urdu, and Turkish, helping reduce language barriers in healthcare settings.
While technology is reshaping the future of medicine and has the potential to bridge healthcare disparities, it must be paired with an institutional willingness to change. Canadian officials are aware of the rise in hostility and bigotry towards Muslims. They are calling for the federal and provincial governments to take action. This mindfulness must translate into concrete policies that protect Muslim communities from discrimination.
As young Muslims currently residing in Montreal, we believe it is essential to foster a health care system that respects all faiths and religious practices within this vibrant and culturally diverse city. Montreal should lead by example and forge a new path ahead to combat systemic bias, ensuring that every future generation is treated with the respect it deserves.
Sabia Irfan (left) is a junior computer science student at McGill University. She has collaborated as a software engineer at the Montreal Heart Institute, served as an AI mentee at the AI4Good Lab at MILA, and worked as an AI research assistant at McGill University, Dalhousie University, and the University of Ottawa. Sabia is interested in AI, biotechnology, and journalism. Sabia is an avid journalist who writes articles on various topics, including AI, finance, and post-secondary issues.
Zakia Irfan (right) is a McGill University student in microbiology and immunology recognized for her leadership in healthcare education and advocacy. She has contributed to youth-focused outreach programs, co-authored High School Pre-Med to guide students exploring medical careers, and spoken at international conferences on representation in healthcare. Through her academic work, community service, and creative projects, she continues to advance equity and innovation in science and medicine.