March 24, 2010
Source: CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/24/bc-sikh-beard-cut-fraser-health.html
B.C.'s Fraser Health Authority is investigating why staff at a seniors care facility made the "terribly unfortunate human error" of cutting the beard off an elderly Sikh patient, the second time such an incident has occurred in the past two years.
A nurse cut the man's beard out of what she thought was medical necessity, according to David Plug, Fraser Health's vice-president of communications.
"The nurse thought that she had more consent than she actually did from the family," Plug said. "It was a terribly unfortunate human error."
Unshorn hair and beards are one of the five articles of faith for baptized Sikhs.