Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Over 10 martyrs and several wounded as Israeli forces opened fire on aid seekers on al-Tina Street, southwest of Khan Younis
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza

Racism in healthcare behind death of three Aboriginal women: Coroner

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 30 Jun 2023 20:11
3 Min Read

A Queensland coroner has ruled that institutional racism played a role in the lack of competency in healthcare providers that led to the death of three indigenous women in Australia.

  • x
  • Racism in healthcare behind death of three Aboriginal women: Coroner
    A medical professional in one of Australia's hospitals talks to a patient. (AP)

A coroner in Queensland has come to the conclusion that institutional racism was behind the lack of competency in healthcare providers that resulted in the deaths of three indigenous women.

The three Aboriginal women came from the isolated Doomadgee town in northwest Queensland, Australia.

Coroner Nerida Wilson stated in a 137-page report that the deaths of Doomadgee residents Adele Sandy in 2019, aged 18, Yvette Booth in 2020, aged 17, and Shakaya George in 2020, aged 27, were brought about by complications due to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and could have been avoided with adequate care.

Wilson went on to say that a lack of teamwork among Doomadgee's health services, a failure to offer proper treatment, and a lack of "cultural competency" had resulted in a "complete and fundamental breakdown of trust" between the community and the health personnel that served them.

Multiple agencies had not properly communicated according to Wilson, leading to a fragmentation of vital health information which threatened the “data sovereignty” of patients.

Read more: Black patients more likely to have negative descriptors than white: Study

According to the coroner, many other reasons led to the death of the women, such as a lack of a formal RHD screening program, trouble keeping staff trained in cultural competency, lack of access to proper nutrition, and many more. 

Wilson's report concludes that the health services are in need of a reset, adding that "all involved, individuals and organizations, have acknowledged the circumstances of the deaths and identified the gaps … All say they want to do better.”

Related News

Aussie woman guilty of killing husband laced vegetable soup with pills

A new species of frog discovered in Australia

Queensland’s chief First Nations health officer, Haylene Grogan, responded to the coroner's report by stating that the passings of the women "are a tragic reminder of the ongoing inequities that First Nations people face."

"It is with deep sadness that I acknowledge the sorry business experienced by their loved ones and the extended period of sadness in Doomadgee for their recent losses.”

Shannon Fentiman, the state health minister, disclosed that the government took all 19 of the coroner's recommendations seriously and “will work with the Doomadgee community, including elders and local health providers, to respond appropriately.”

Wilson added that “health system leadership and providers have a clear role resetting health services and healthcare delivery while ceasing to be complicit in the injustices and inequities in healthcare systems."

According to the coroner, institutional racism has been a lasting issue in the health sector of Queensland. 

In 2017, the Queensland Human Rights Commission and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) found racism to be prevalent at multiple health facilities. 

In early June, a report by the Queensland auditor-general explained that “Queensland Health must improve how it delivers culturally appropriate care," suggesting that a coordinated strategy should be in place to ensure Aboriginal people from remote and rural areas attend specialist outpatient appointments, and calling for measures to see how effective Queensland health delivers culturally appropriate care. 

Wilson concluded her report by noting that at "an institutional level, it is essential that racism in all its forms, reasons, oral and by action can be identified, measured and monitored.”

Read next: Hidden links found tying CIA to murder of Indigenous children

 

  • indigenous people
  • Racism
  • Australia
  • Queensland

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly: Israeli media

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza: Israeli media

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS