William Osler Health System (Osler) issued a public apology for an incident in August where a Sikh man’s beard was shaved without his or his family’s consent while he was unconscious.
“Recently, we failed to uphold religious and cultural care practices when a Sikh patient’s beard was shaved without consent and without medical necessity. We take full responsibility for this incident and have extended our deepest apologies to the patient and his family. We also want to extend our apology to the Sikh community and the exceptional culturally diverse community that we serve. The distress this incident has caused the patient, the patient’s family, and the wider Sikh community – including our own workforce – has profoundly affected us as an organization and beyond,” the organization said.
Last month, the family of Joginder Singh Kaler approached the WSO for assistance after Mr. Kaler’s beard was shaved without permission. Shaving or removal of hair is a violation of the beliefs of practicing Sikhs. Since then, the WSO has worked closely with the family and Osler Health in investigating the incident.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) acknowledged the public apology and appreciated that Osler has accepted full responsibility for this serious breach and has committed to taking corrective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
WSO President Danish Singh said, “The incident involving Mr. Kaler was both unacceptable and deeply shocking. While the error was irreversible, along with the pain caused to Mr. Kaler and his family, we are hopeful that this unfortunate event can lead to positive changes, ensuring that the religious beliefs and practices of all patients are respected going forward. Brampton is home to one of the largest Sikh communities outside of Punjab, and it is crucial that the hospitals serving this community are fully aware of Sikh practices and respectful of them. The community must have confidence that their beliefs will be upheld in all aspects of care. The WSO is committed to continuing its work with Osler to safeguard the rights of Sikh patients. We welcome Osler’s apology as an important first step, but we also recognize that there is much work ahead to ensure that such an incident never happens again. We look forward to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with Osler to create an environment where all patients receive care that respects their cultural and religious identities.”
Singh added that the WSO will remain engaged with William Osler Health System and the broader community to ensure that meaningful changes are implemented and that healthcare providers across the country are equipped with the resources and education necessary to meet the needs of Sikh patients and others from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
Hospital Network Aplogizes for shaving Sikh man’s beard without consent; WSO Urges Concrete Changes for Sikh Patients
