Lived Experience

Not on the same team: Police presence in health-care settings is at odds with professional obligations and trauma-informed care

The presence of police in health-care settings can undermine the ability of doctors, nurses, and others to provide high-quality, patient-centred care. It's time we critically interrogated the role of police in these spaces.

Improving the health-care experience for autistic patients: The Autistic Health Access Project

Autistic people are leading seminars in medical schools about what it's like to experience the health-care system as an autistic patient. They hope that future doctors will work with these patients more collaboratively.

How one ER partnered with a mental-health organization to care for youth in distress

Young adults recovering from mental illness and substance use are working in the emergency room of a Toronto hospital to give young patients in psychological distress the support they need.

Humour really is the best medicine

Humour has an important place in medicine. It is a proven balm for patient experience, it improves our relationships with patients and is a resource for medical practitioners.  

‘I can’t take deep breaths anymore’: Some young adults feeling long-term effects from mild cases of COVID-19

Youth and young adults who had even mild cases of COVID-19 are experiencing lingering symptoms like shortness of breath for months. Recent research may shed some light on why.

‘Mindfulness’ for cancer patients: Has a popular trend gone too far?

In the rush to embrace mindfulness, cancer centres should be cautious and practice trauma-informed care.

A call to action: An approach to patient transfers for rural and remote communities in Canada

Healing Assembly Line Medicine

How "deep work," work performed in a state of intense focus, can improve a health-care system that leaves patients dissatisfied and physicians burned out.

#thatparent: The unfairly maligned ‘difficult’ parent in health care

The hashtag #thatparent is sometimes used by parents who are labelled "difficult" because of their advocacy in the health-care system. Why do we make them feel uncomfortable for trying to be the best parents they can be?

Health Care in Hues: Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

Where we as physicians and health-care providers strive to provide holistic care for our patients, our ability to impact their health and well-being is rooted in our ability to understand their perspectives and day-to-day challenges.

Kitty – Food Bank Manager

Pooja – Speech Language Pathologist

Bearing witness to the lived experiences of the pandemic’s essential workers

Teaching and learning to trust: the essence of medicine

The practice of medicine is predicated on trust. Our patients trust that we will do what is in their best interest. But how should we trust those we are teaching to be doctors?

‘Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always’: The importance of support networks

Though the immediate prognosis is better than some illnesses, the end result is that this disease will end my life early. I’m 35 years old and there is no sound curative treatment.

The challenges of health privacy: From the ER to virtual care

Though health privacy is now a larger focus in training, it can be hard to put into practice, causing systemic privacy breaches.

Autism case highlights urgent need to reform Ontario’s regulatory colleges

Barbara (Personal Support Worker)

I’ve got cancer. Will I get the care I need during a pandemic?

A tale of two pandemic cities