Dr. Ahmed Aoude, a highly specialized surgeon at Montreal General Hospital, is questioning whether he can continue practicing in Quebec following the provincial government's introduction of Bill 2. The legislation has profoundly shaken his faith in both the healthcare system and how society values medical professionals who dedicate their lives to patient care.
A Surgeon's Deep Connection to Quebec
Dr. Aoude expresses deep affection for Montreal and Quebec, emphasizing that he chose to remain in the province not because it was easy, but because it represents home. His family, friends, and patients are all rooted in Quebec, making the current situation particularly painful for the dedicated surgeon.
Every day, Dr. Aoude commits himself to serving Quebecers, often meeting patients during the most frightening moments of their lives. He sacrifices time with his own family to care for strangers whom he proudly calls his patients, frequently working evenings, nights, and weekends—even when not officially on call—because he cannot turn away those in need.
The Reality of Complex Surgical Care
As a hyper-specialized surgeon in spine and orthopedic oncology, Dr. Aoude performs some of the most complex and high-risk surgeries in the world. These are procedures that very few surgeons globally are trained to perform. His background includes an honours degree in electrical engineering and a master's in biomedical engineering, knowledge he brings into every operation to give patients what he calls "a fighting chance."
Despite working in what he describes as a "deeply broken" system, Dr. Aoude and his colleagues adapt and innovate constantly. The government has failed to provide necessary tools and resources, yet medical professionals take on "inoperable" cases because they refuse to abandon their patients. They bear the risks, sleepless nights, and heavy emotional toll not for recognition, but for the people who trust them with their lives.
The Financial Reality and Bill 2's Impact
While acknowledging he earns a good income, Dr. Aoude explains that when divided by hours worked, years of training, risk, and emotional burden, Quebec's physicians—especially those in complex surgical specialties—are among the lowest compensated in Canada.
What makes Bill 2 particularly devastating is how it portrays doctors as "lazy and overpaid," a narrative Dr. Aoude describes as both false and deeply insulting. He challenges Health Minister Christian Dubé and anyone else to walk beside him for one week—witnessing 12-hour surgeries, emergency calls in the middle of the night, and the heartbreaking moments when families receive cancer diagnoses—then reconsider whether Quebec's doctors are overcompensated.
The data used to justify the legislation is misleading, according to Dr. Aoude. He points to Montreal's population growth over the past decade compared to the number of available operating rooms. Even with a stable population, the system would struggle, but with growing demand and shrinking surgical capacity, the mathematics clearly demonstrates the system's inadequacy.
Dr. Aoude concludes with a powerful statement about his professional philosophy: "I have always stood up for my patients. Now, I am asking you to stand up for us." His words represent a heartfelt plea from a medical professional who has dedicated his life to Quebec but now questions whether he can continue doing so under current conditions.
