In a powerful stand against prejudice, a receptionist at a Glasgow medical practice earned widespread praise for her swift and effective handling of a patient who declared they did not want to be seen by an “Asian Doctor.” This incident, brought to light by Dr. Punam Krishan, an experienced General Practitioner (GP) at the clinic, has sparked a vital conversation about racism within healthcare settings and the importance of challenging discriminatory attitudes head-on.
Dr. Krishan, sharing the incident on social media, expressed her profound pride in her team. The exchange unfolded when a patient voiced their preference against seeing an “Asian doctor.” The receptionist, in an exemplary display of support and clarity, firmly countered this discriminatory statement. She informed the patient that Dr. Krishan is Scottish, a fact met with the prejudiced reply: “She doesn’t look Scottish.” Undeterred, the receptionist delivered a silencing question: “What do Scottish people look like?” This retort effectively challenged the patient’s assumptions and prejudice, leading to the patient taking their appointment card without further comment.
Dr. Krishan, in subsequent comments to BBC Scotland, highlighted that this was not an isolated incident. She acknowledged the broader issue of racial bias within the healthcare system, emphasizing the need to openly discuss and confront these occurrences. “I am aware that it happens across the board but we rarely talk about it,” she stated, underscoring the culture of silence that often surrounds such discriminatory behavior. “There is no reason or place for it,” Dr. Krishan firmly asserted, advocating for a zero-tolerance approach to racism in healthcare.
This incident is not the first time Dr. Krishan has faced racial prejudice. Last summer, her column in The Scotsman addressing GP burnout unfortunately became a target for racist comments, ultimately necessitating the disabling of the comments section. In a follow-up article for the Huffington Post, Dr. Krishan openly discussed the distressing impact of this online abuse, revealing how deeply affected she was by the hateful remarks. These past experiences further contextualize the recent incident and highlight the persistent nature of the racism faced by healthcare professionals from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Krishan expressed feeling “uplifted” by the overwhelmingly positive response to her recent social media post. Within just 24 hours, her tweet garnered over 54,000 likes and was retweeted more than 8,400 times, demonstrating widespread support and solidarity. This public reaction underscores a collective rejection of racism and a strong appreciation for the receptionist’s decisive action. “I have had a very positive response which is so uplifting,” Dr. Krishan shared, emphasizing the encouragement she has drawn from the public’s support. She further affirmed her sense of belonging and the diverse nature of her community: “Scotland is my home. It is a beautiful, multicultural, diverse nation and ultimately we all need to work together for something like the NHS.” Dr. Krishan powerfully concluded, “Disease does not pick a gender and disease does not pick a colour. When you strip it back we are all human,” highlighting the fundamental principle of equality and the shared humanity that should underpin healthcare interactions.
NHS Million, a campaign dedicated to celebrating the National Health Service, also voiced their support, tweeting: “NHS staff deserve respect at all times regardless of whether they are Scottish, Asian, or anything else.” This statement reinforces the principle of respect for all healthcare workers and directly challenges the racist sentiment expressed by the patient.
While some online commentators suggested that the patient should have been refused service, Dr. Krishan emphasized her commitment to her duty of care. “It is important to treat the person before me and see that they are safe and well,” she explained, highlighting the ethical obligations of a healthcare provider. “It is not right to turn someone away who needs help.” Dr. Krishan concluded by commending her receptionist’s handling of the situation: “My receptionist put this person in their place and they left with some food for thought,” emphasizing the educational impact of the receptionist’s assertive response to prejudice.
This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the racism that unfortunately persists within society and can manifest even in healthcare settings. However, it also highlights the positive impact of challenging prejudice directly and the widespread support for a diverse and inclusive healthcare system where patients are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their background, and where healthcare professionals, including dedicated “Asian doctors” like Dr. Krishan, are valued for their expertise and commitment to patient care.
