Doctors protest proposed DEI emphasis in Canadian medical school training

A draft report from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada that recommends medical schools focus more on “anti-racism” and “oppression” is causing an uproar among many in the medical community.

The proposed alterations to CanMEDS, the framework that shapes medical education in Canada, came from an interim report by the college’s Anti-Racism Expert Working Group, published in late November on X. CanMEDs standards are set to be updated in 2025.

The report calls for “de-centering medical expertise” in favor of topics such as “decolonization,” “social justice,” and “inclusive compassion.”

“By challenging the status quo and embracing courageous actions and bold leadership, we can build a healthcare system that actively combats systemic inequities and promotes social justice rather than further perpetuating systems of oppression,” the report states.