Does Living Remotely Imply Tacit Approval to Diminished Health Services?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7202/1118915ar

Keywords:

remote healthcare, informed consent, biomedical ethics, truth and reconciliation, Indigenous population

Language(s):

English

Abstract

ost of the Canadian population lives in urban settings where amenities, including rapid access to major hospitals and tertiary care, are readily available. However, a significant yet often overlooked segment of the population resides in remote areas, where daily life is markedly different, and accessing healthcare poses considerable challenges. As our society progresses toward truth and reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples, it is crucial to reconsider and critically address the prevailing narrative surrounding remote living. In my interactions with non-Indigenous individuals living off reserves, many appear to view remote living as a personal choice, accepting that limited access to healthcare is an unavoidable consequence. However, I argue that Indigenous peoples were not — and still are not — offered a genuine “choice” regarding where they can live and, therefore, do not tacitly consent to reduced healthcare services.

References

1. Statistics Canada. Indigenous population continues to grow and is much younger than the non-Indigenous population, although the pace of growth has slowed. Ottawa: Statistics Canada; 2022.

2. Union of Ontario Indians. An overview of the Indian residential school system. Toronto: Union of Ontario Indians; 2013.

3. Diabetes Canada. Diabetes rates continue to climb in Canada. Toronto: Diabetes Canada; 2022.

4. Statistics Canada. Suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit (2011-2016): Findings from the 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC). Ottawa: Statistics Canada; 2019.

5. Reading C, Wien F. Health inequalities and social determinants of Aboriginal people’s health. Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health; 2009.

6. Loppie C, Wien F. Understanding Indigenous health inequalities through a social determinants model. Prince George, BC. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health; 2022.

7. Busbee N. Tacit consent, individual will, and political obligation. IAPSS: Ottawa; 2023.

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© Han Han Li

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Published

2025-07-07

How to Cite

[1]
Banyai M. Does Living Remotely Imply Tacit Approval to Diminished Health Services?. Can. J. Bioeth 2025;8:127-30. https://doi.org/10.7202/1118915ar.

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): Open Issue

Section

Perspectives

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Mark Banyai

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