Hospital system apologizes after Brampton Sikh man's beard shaved

William Osler Hospital in Ontario apologized after its staff shaved a Sikh man's beard without permission from him or his family and in violation of his religious principles. The World Sikh Organization (WSO) brought attention to the August incident last month.

Dr. Frank Martino, president and CEO of the William Osler Health System in Brampton, and Pardeep Singh Gill, board chair, issued a public apology Wednesday. "Recently, we failed to uphold religious and cultural care practices when a Sikh patient's beard was shaved without consent and without medical necessity. We take full responsibility for this incident and have extended our deepest apologies to the patient,his family and the Sikh community the joint statement said. Joginder Singh Kaler, 85 had never shaved or cut his beard in his life before this incident, the organization said.

"Brampton is home to one of the largest Sikh communities outside of Punjab, and it is crucial that the hospitals serving this community are fully aware of Sikh practices and respectful of them. The community must have confidence that their beliefs will be upheld in all aspects of care," Singh said.