Question

A 55-year-old Cree woman living on-reserve presents with a non-healing plantar foot ulcer and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 9.2%). She reports past negative experiences with racism in urban hospitals and is reluctant to attend specialist appointments off-reserve. Which approach best reflects the CanMEDS Health Advocate and Communicator roles in Indigenous health?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge her past experiences, explore barriers, and work with local Indigenous health workers to arrange culturally safe foot care and telemedicine specialist input.

Answer

Insist that she attend a tertiary diabetes foot clinic and discharge her from care if she declines.

Answer

Document her refusal of recommended care and take no further action.

Answer

Tell her that racism is unlikely now and that she should not worry about it.

Answer

Refer her directly to orthopaedic surgery for below-knee amputation.

Practice question