Dr. Amos Akinbiyi, a Nigerian-born obstetrician-gynecologist based in Canada, last month filed a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), alleging breach of contract, intimidation, conspiracy, and defamation.
The case stems from a 2017 incident in which he was reportedly compelled to perform an emergency delivery on his own daughter while she was in critical condition at a hospital.
Allegations Against SHA
Dr. Akinbiyi asserts that despite the presence of other qualified medical professionals at the hospital, he was specifically called upon to conduct the procedure on his daughter, who was experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency during childbirth.
“How would I go home? My daughter is caught in a code blue, I mean that is between life and death,” he stated, expressing his distress over the situation.
He further described the incident as ethically inappropriate and culturally taboo within his Nigerian heritage.
Following the incident, Dr. Akinbiyi raised a formal complaint against SHA officials, which led to retaliatory actions against him, according to his legal claim. SHA, in turn, filed complaints against him, which he alleges were racially motivated.
Claims of Systemic Racism
Dr. Akinbiyi has cited racism as a core issue in his lawsuit, stating that he has observed similar discriminatory treatment toward other minority doctors.
“This is not the first time SHA would be doing this to some ethnic doctors; and I feel I am committed to pursuing this to a conclusive end, despite all the financial involvement, despite all the exhaustion because this is a task for generations to come, not just only for me,” he said.
The lawsuit comes amid a broader review of workplace culture at Regina hospitals, following multiple complaints of racial discrimination.
In 2023, eleven doctors filed a human rights complaint against SHA, alleging preferential treatment of white physicians and systemic racism within the healthcare system.
SHA has declined to comment on the case, citing ongoing litigation. The allegations against SHA have not yet been proven in court.
Legal Implications and Next Steps
Dr. Akinbiyi’s lawsuit raises significant legal and ethical questions regarding medical ethics, workplace discrimination, and systemic racism in healthcare institutions.
If the claims are substantiated in court, the case could set a precedent for addressing racial disparities within the Canadian medical system.
The lawsuit remains in its early stages, and further proceedings will determine the validity of Dr. Akinbiyi’s claims and the legal consequences for SHA.
