Rhetoric fuels division

I am a Canadian-born family physician (and sport medicine physician) of Chinese descent, and am very concerned about Dr Warren Bell’s following comment: “Non–Canadian-born physicians, perhaps more utilitarian in their approach to the Canadian health care system, [billed more than Canadian-born physicians].”¹ Am I wrong to say that Dr Bell is implying that those not born in Canada can all be lumped together and that he is able to discern that they have a different attitude than we do? Is it possible that the reason non–Canadian-born physicians billed more is that they work longer hours or more days per week, having likely spent many years struggling toward licensure as international medical graduates, and are trying to recoup income for all the lost years after having moved from their home countries? Is dividing our physician work force into Canadian-born and non–Canadian-born physicians even appropriate? I think this sort of rhetoric only fuels division, at a time when division is rampant and more destructive than ever. I am disappointed.

• Copyright© 2022 the College of Family Physicians of Canada