An indigenous woman from Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta is alleging that "racism and malpractice" at a Covenant Health hospital led to her daughter's death..Pearl Gambler visited her obstetrician on June 11, 2020, she was then referred Misericordia Community Hospital in west Edmonton because she was experiencing pain in her spine and was 20 weeks pregnant..Gambler's doctor told her a bed had been reserved for her there..Gambler said when she arrived at the Misericordia Community Hospital she was wearing her hair in braids and a shirt that said, "Strong. Resilient. indigenous.".Gambler claims a hospital employee repeatedly told her "there is nothing for you here, and she felt her race was a factor.".Gambler was eventually given a bed, an ultrasound and an exam at the Misericordia..On Thursday, at Treaty 8 First Nation Urban Child and Family Services in Edmonton, Gambler described the birth and death of her daughter, Sakihitowin Azaya Gambler, on June 12, 2020, at the Misericordia..Gambler claims she was put in a room by herself. Eventually her water broke and Gambler's partner went to tell staff. She would eventually have the baby on her own while a nurse watched from three metres away.."He stood 10 feet away from me and he watched me deliver my daughter and he didn’t help me. He put his hand over his mouth and he watched me deliver and I was screaming," Gambler said in the news conference..Gambler claims 30 minutes later, nurses came in, and the umbilical cord was cut and she was told she had a little girl..A “beautiful, healthy, baby girl," Gambler claims the nurse said..A short time later Gambler was told her newborn daughter had died..Her lawyer, Shelagh McGregor, alleges Gambler was discriminated against because she is indigenous..A lawsuit has been filed against Covenant Health..“The fact is that the events that happened here would not have happened to her as a Caucasian woman, the lack of recognition of her daughter’s life and her value as the mother to comfort her daughter while she died,” McGregor said.."Covenant Health takes any and all complaints and concerns seriously, including allegations of racism and discrimination. Racism and discrimination in all forms have no place within Covenant Health," Communications Manager for Covenant Health Karen Diaper said via email to the Western Standard.."Covenant Health is reviewing the allegations. Due to privacy legislation, we are unable to provide further commentary on or discuss any specific patient information.".Minister of Health Jason Copping told the Western Standard via email: "My heart goes out to any mother who loses a child."."I understand that Covenant Health is reviewing the case, and I look forward to the results of that review," Copping said..Copping said he believes that racism has no place in the province's health system.."Regardless of the details of this case, we know that indigenous people too often feel they are subject to discrimination in the health system, and that has to change," Copping said.
