By Dr. Darren Joneson
When I was young, I never imagined becoming a doctor. In fact, I wouldn’t have been voted “most likely to become a physician” in my graduating class. I had my fair share of adventures and missteps, and medicine wasn’t on my radar at all. But life has a way of leading us in unexpected directions.
Everything changed when I spent time in Madagascar as a missionary. I saw firsthand how difficult it was for people to access even the most basic healthcare. I prayed for guidance, asking what I should do with my life, and I felt a strong, undeniable calling to become a doctor. I was surprised, but I took it seriously.
When I returned home, I threw myself into university, starting the long road to medical school. It wasn’t easy. I struggled. There were setbacks. But I pushed forward, always with the goal of helping people. One thing I learned quickly is that you don’t have to go across the world to find people in need. One patient taught me that lesson all too well.
The patient I couldn’t save
He came in as a walk-in patient, and something about his symptoms concerned me. I ran tests and suspected prostate cancer. He was young for it, but the numbers didn’t lie.
There were complications right away. He had experienced childhood trauma, which made medical exams difficult. But I took my time with him. We built trust. He started treatment.
Then, one day, he told me he was thinking of stopping treatment and using marijuana instead. I told him, “Look, I’m only going to say this once, then I’ll support you no matter what: That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” He looked surprised, but he listened. He kept going with treatment.
But his challenges didn’t stop there. After treatment, he became weaker. He had a bad fall and struggled to walk. Eventually, he needed a scooter to get around. Then, he developed severe lockjaw. He needed dental surgery, but he had no coverage. The initial consultation alone was $300—money he didn’t have.
I worked with a social worker to find him a free clinic at UBC. But when they called to book his appointment, his phone was out of minutes. He missed the call. They marked him as a no-show.
And all the while, I watched him waste away. He was getting thinner and thinner. Finally, after another round of imaging, we discovered what I had feared—his cancer was back. And this time, it was everywhere.
He died not just from cancer, but from poverty. From a system that made it impossible for him to access care. From barriers that most of us never think twice about—a working phone, a $300 consultation, the ability to physically get to an appointment.
He isn’t the only one.
Why I joined BC Family Doctors
Stories like his are why I advocate for better primary care. Family doctors see these struggles up close. We know that many of our patients don’t just need prescriptions—they need stable housing, financial support, and a healthcare system that doesn’t make them jump through hoops just to survive.
But advocating for change isn’t easy. It requires stepping up, speaking out and pushing for solutions. That’s why I put my hand up to join BC Family Doctors. I didn’t want to just complain about the system—I wanted to help fix it. A properly functioning primary care system is impossible without family doctors. To improve healthcare delivery, we need to create an environment where family doctors are respected, supported and valued for providing high quality patient care.
BC Family Doctors is working hard to make family medicine more sustainable in B.C., to push for better policies, and to ensure that more patients can get the care they need when they need it.
If you’re a family doctor in B.C., I encourage you to get involved. Whether it’s through advocacy, mentorship, or supporting your colleagues, we all have a role to play in shaping the future of primary care. The system won’t fix itself, but together, we can push for the changes that will make a real difference—for both doctors and patients.
Family medicine is one of the most rewarding careers out there. But it should also be sustainable. It should be valued. And it should be protected.
That’s what I’m fighting for.
Darren Joneson is a family doctor based in Chilliwack. He is the president-elect of BC Family Doctors.