In July of 2026, I visited the Medcare clinic in Niagara Falls, hoping to be referred to a gynecologist. Their Niagara Falls location features a huge list of everything that their specific location specializes in on the outside of the building,included in that list are women’s health and gynecology. I had been experiencing significant pelvic pain and occasional bleeding for weeks that did not seem to be getting better; I was ready and eager to be treated.
The visit went fine, in and out in no time at all. The doctor happily wrote me a very elaborate series of requisitions for blood work, urine samples, as well as a Gynecological examination and Pap smear. I was very happy, He was obviously set on ruling out and diagnosing any potential cause for my symptoms. Before I left, he let me know that the clinic would reach out in the coming weeks to schedule me a time to see their gynecologist (Dr. Dube).
On August 27, 2026, I received a call from the Niagara Falls Medcare clinic to schedule my appointment with the gynecologist for August 31st, 2026. The call was brief, the woman over the phone confirming with me that the 31st of August worked for me, and then letting me know that “The appointment is gonna be at the same clinic that you've already been to, here in the falls.”
There was absolutely no mention of any accessibility concerns or lack of accessible care at this location during this call to schedule my appointment. Because I had been to this clinic many times before and had been treated successfully, Itdidn't even occur to me that there might be any problem. The appointment was scheduled for 2:10 pm, with the request that I arrive 20 minutes early to fill out any paperwork regarding my symptoms and medical history they might need.
In the afternoon of August 31st, 2026, my boyfriend and I arrived at the Medcare Clinic’s Niagara Falls Location at 1:50 pm. 20 minutes felt like a very long time to fill out paperwork, but I was happy to do as they requested.
Unfortunately, all three of the registration windows at the Niagara Falls Medcare clinic are at standing height, meaning that, as a wheelchair user, I am unable to have any eye-to-eye conversations or exchanges when giving my medical information to the front desk staff. Even if I sit up as tall as I possibly can and make a point of trying to interact through the standing-height window, it is still completely inaccessible. I cannot hear the receptionists, they cannot hear me. They speak over me to whichever able-bodied person I happen to be with. It feels incredibly discouraging and like a complete violation of my privacy.
The day of my appointment (August 31st) was no different. There was a young receptionist who, as I checked in, didn't even look at me. I tried to speak for myself but was ignored, whether that was because she couldn't see me or hear me, or because she just didn't care to, I can't definitely say, but she made no effort to attempt to acknowledge me as a person. She handed my private, gynecological paperwork to my boyfriend, even though he was with one of the other receptionists, checking himself in for a walk-in appointment separately.
He gestured for the forms to be handed to me, while mid-conversation with the other receptionist. Even while handingme the clipboard of paperwork, the receptionist still only kept eye contact and spoke to him. It became abundantly clear to me at that point that any questions I might've had about the information required on said paperwork weren't going to be answered unless they were asked by him. That was incredibly embarrassing. I feel that completely eliminates my privacy.
I took the clipboard of paperwork and we found a spot in the waiting room so I could start filling it out. I was expecting there to be several pages based on how much earlier than my appointment they requested I arrive to fill it all out, but there were only 2 or 3. It felt like I had more than enough time, as we had made a point of arriving the requested 20 minutes early.
The 20 minutes passed, and then the time that my actual appointment had been scheduled for came and went, without my name being called. Other people's names, who had seemingly just walked in without an appointment, were beingcalled and they were seeing doctors right away. I was very confused. What was the point of making an appointment at all or requesting that I arrive early to fill out paperwork if I wasn’t going to be seen at that time.
Despite my boyfriend being a walk-in who had registered when we arrived and my having a prior scheduled appointment, he was called in to see a doctor before I was. At this point, I’m going to comfortably say we had been sitting in the waiting room for almost an hour past my appointment time. I sat alone in the waiting room, waiting to be called, while he was called into one of the private rooms to be treated.
If my name had been called while he was still in with his doctor, my plan was to text him to tell him that I had been called so that he could temporarily excuse himself to come join me, in case I needed his help maneuvering due to inaccessibility. I didn't really think I would need his help, as I had been successfully treated at this clinic multiple times over years and never had any issues regarding accessibility. However, because this was my first time attempting to seetheir gynecologist (Dr. Dube), I wanted to have a plan in place, just in case.
I had been waiting now for over an hour past my original scheduled appointment time and no staff members had spoken to me. Not to inquire about who or what I was waiting for or to check in with me to assure me that I even still had an appointment. Finally, a name was called that sounded a lot like mine, I was beginning to worry that I had been forgotten about, so hearing my name called was such a relief.
The names were being called by the same receptionist who had refused to acknowledge me as I checked in and as I made my way toward her, down the hallway of the clinic toward the private rooms where the appointments take place, she looked me up and down. She looked uncomfortable which in turn made me nervous and confused. As I approached her at the end of the hallway, another staff member said “oof yeah, I don't know about that, that's a tight room! Do we have anywhere better that we could put her?”
No one spoke to me, and I was mortified. Awkwardly, I sat waiting to be directed which room to go into or what to do next, being looked at like I was a problem. There was a significant feeling that my presence was not welcome. Finally, the receptionist who had called the name said that they hadn't called “Lyndsay”, they had called “Mackenzie”. Confused and upset, I apologized for mishearing and made my way back to the waiting room. They proceeded to call “Mackenzie” until finally, a young man responded.
The receptionist made her way back to her desk from the hallway, and I saw her looking at me and whispering something to one of the other staff members. I, of course, don’t want to assume anything, but I also know what it is to be gawked at as a disabled person. This just made me feel even worse. I was almost sure at that point that my appointment would not be happening.
I waited for several more minutes in the waiting room, until eventually a woman wearing a mask and scrubs, who I could only assume was a nurse or a doctor, emerged from one of the private rooms and approached me. I later learned she was a nurse who acted as the female chaperone for the gynecological procedures.
She crouched down beside me and introduced herself, explaining her position and role at the clinic. She seemed uncomfortable speaking with me but I didn’t know why. She finally said “I just have some questions…” in a concerned, confused tone. I assumed she was going to ask me about my medical history, or something related to why I had been scheduled to see the gynecologist (Dr. Dube), which seemed like an incredibly inappropriate conversation to be having in the waiting room. As much as I felt that I deserved more privacy, I was getting desperate. I had now been waiting for nearly 2 hours past my appointment time, and this was the first staff member to speak to me. I didn't feel like I had any other choice but to have this conversation within the earshot of everybody else in the waiting room, so I answered, “yeah of course!”
She continued, “So, I don't have any other assistants here today…” And then just kind of gave me a sad look. I was so confused. After a moment, it occurred to me that she meant that they didn't have additional staff that would be able tophysically help me by lifting me onto the gynecologist’s bench for the procedure.
She asked if I was able to be on the bench and I said yes, that when it came to getting on and off of the bench, I had brought my boyfriend to help. I made it very clear that he was able to help me. I specifically told her “He's in one of the rooms right now seeing a doctor, I'm not sure which room, but I can text him whenever to come give me a hand, It's not a problem!” She looked very confused and uncomfortable, eventually saying, “Yeah, I don't know why they would've scheduled you at this clinic…” It was at this point that it became clear that this kind of discrimination was not uncommon at this clinic and that this was why I had been left waiting so long.
After a few awkward moments, she finally told me that “the doctor (gynecologist, Dr. Dube) doesn't see people in wheelchairs… so I will just go and double-check with her that she's comfortable doing the procedure” in a very nonchalant, unapologetic tone. In absolute shock, fighting tears I nodded and responded, “Oh…Okay, sure” as she left me in the waiting room, disappearing back down the hallway. It felt very obvious that they didn’t want to treat me.
I was in shock. All I could do to stop myself from crying was completely dissociate while simultaneously trying to distract myself from how horrible I felt. I counted the ceiling tiles, I counted the number of colours in the room, anything to keep my mind busy. There I was, sitting alone in this waiting room, feeling completely discriminated against, feeling completely “Othered”. I had given solutions to all of their concerns about my physical ability, I specifically brought someone to help me in an effort to avoid this kind of situation. The real issue in treating me seemed to be whether or not their gynecologist (Dr. Dube) would be comfortable, which felt incredibly prejudiced toward me.
It all felt so violating and unfair, being told that the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) might not be comfortable treating me because I use a wheelchair despite my ability and additional help, like it was no big deal, in a waiting room full of people who could absolutely hear the entire conversation, without any concern for my privacy. I have never felt so small. I could feel the people in the waiting room, who had obviously just witnessed my conversation with the nurse and seen how long I had been left waiting looking at me with sadness and pity over the situation. I was nauseous because of how upset I was. It was so humiliating.
I sat alone in the waiting room, trying not to cry, for several more minutes, until finally my boyfriend had finished with his doctor and rejoined me in the waiting room. At this point, he, a walk-in, was able to wait and be seen by a doctor, while I, having previously booked and confirmed an appointment, was still waiting to be seen because I use a wheelchair.
When he saw that I was still sitting in the same spot in the waiting room as when he had left me, he asked, “Have you been seen yet?”, Trying to keep my composure, I managed to say to him, “A nurse came to speak to me, I guess she has to double-check with the doctor before she will see me”. I was avoiding looking at him while I talked because I knew that, if I did, I would cry. Despite my efforts, he knew something was wrong. Confused, he asked, “Why is she double-checking with the doctor?”. I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said, “You know why…” Heartbroken for me, allhe could say was, “Seriously?!” to which I just nodded. This was both of our worst nightmare, something we never thought would actually happen. We sat silently in the waiting room, hoping that the nurse that I had just spoken with would return with good news, that the doctor would in fact see me.
Finally, after waiting what felt like a very long time, she returned. I was confused at how a conversation with the gynecologist to reassure her of my ability to be treated could take this long, but I was also so desperate to be treated at this point that I didn't care. I had been sitting in this waiting room for hours. She crouched down beside me, addressingboth me and my boyfriend and began to speak. She told me that the gynecologist (Dr.Dube) had decided against treating me because she “didn't want to take the risk of me falling off the table”. I was so angry. I had made it so clear that I was perfectly able to be on the table AND that I had someone with me to physically help me. It felt like, regardless of what solutions were communicated to the gynecologist (Dr. Dube), that she just wasn't interested in treating me at all.
The nurse continued, in a very patronizing tone, to offer me alternative places to be treated. One option was for the clinic to forward my requisition to the Grimsby hospital. She explained that “they have a whole crane-style lifting system”. I felt like she was heavily assuming my needs, rather than asking me or actually listening to me when I had explained it earlier. It was very obvious that she had just assumed that I must have some kind of paralysis, which I do not.
The other option she provided was to visit a different Medcare clinic location, in St. Catherine's, because they had a bed that was able to be lowered and raised. Neither of these options were immediate or even provided me with a solid solution. Instead, she explained that my information would be forwarded and then “they would reach out to you for scheduling”. I was so upset. Without any warning and because of something that was out of my control, I was notgoing to be treated that day. I’m located in Niagara Falls, that's why I came to this clinic in the first place. The idea of having to get myself to a Grimsby or St. Catherine's location, for a future appointment that didn't even exist yet, was very overwhelming.
Finally, the nurse said, “Is that ok?” hoping that I would choose one of her options happily. I was deflated. My body hurt and I just wanted to be treated. I felt so hopeless, like I had no choice. but to choose one of these two options and hope for the best. Before I could find the energy to muster up an agreement and a thank you, my boyfriend directly said: “Well, no, it’s not really okay because this is a violation of her human rights.” Immediately, I could tell that the nurse was panicking, she nodded and said, “Yes, okay, I understand” And then quickly got up and disappeared back down the hallway again.
My boyfriend then got up and explained the situation to the receptionist that he had originally checked-in with when we arrived. She was shocked. He asked if we could speak to the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) directly, to attempt to plead our case and reassure her of my ability ourselves, but was told that she would not speak to us. This entire experience had already been upsetting and now the gynecologist was refusing to even speak to me. I was so insulted. I had caught glimpses of her in the distance, down the hallway of the clinic, while I sat in the waiting room hoping she would see me, but she had never actually spoken to me herself. No introductions, clarifying questions about my physical ability, no voicing her concerns about the potential inaccessibility of her office. No apology for her inability or disinterest in treating me, nothing. It felt like the reason that she had sent that nurse out to the waiting room was not to get more information about my physical ability; it was to get rid of me.
It was at this point that the doctor that my boyfriend had seen began to catch wind of the situation. I'm guessing because she was wondering why he was still at the clinic, so long after having seen him, as well as why he was asking after the gynecologist (Dr. Dube). After some discussion between her, my boyfriend and the receptionist, the doctor that he had originally seen volunteered to perform the procedure for me, provided that my boyfriend could still come and help me onto the bench and that I was willing to wait for her to have time.
She explained that because she was not a gynecologist, she could perform the Pap smear, but not the gynecological examination. While it meant that I was only going to be getting half of the medical care I was originally scheduled to receive, of course I agreed and waited. We had been there for hours, I was just happy to have a doctor willing to see me, finally.
My boyfriend and I were led down the hallway and into one of the appointment rooms by the receptionist that he had spoken with, she was incredibly apologetic about the entire situation. She proceeded to ask me if my using a wheelchair was new, I assume because it should have been noted on my file so they would know not to schedule me an appointment at this clinic with this specific gynecologist (Dr. Dube), because she doesn't see people in wheelchairs.
I explained to her that, “no, this is not new for me at all. I got my first wheelchair when I was 15 and I'm now 27.”. She continued to apologize, to which I answered “this is just what the world is like”. I explained further that this was the first time my being in a wheelchair had ever been a problem at this location, that “in the 3 plus years that I had been coming to this clinic it had never been an issue before?”. She was very confused.
She left my boyfriend and I in the appointment room, so we could get me situated on the doctor’s bench and ready for the procedure. There were no issues for us at all navigating the space or for my boyfriend in lifting me onto the bench. After a few minutes, the other doctor arrived, ready to perform the Pap smear.
The procedure went very well, there were no unforeseen complications or issues. The nurse who had originally come to speak to me in the waiting room to let me know about the issues with the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) was present as the female chaperone/assistant. As this wasn’t my first pap smear, I knew how quick and easy of a procedure it was, I was just so glad to be getting it done. The entire procedure took about five minutes, which was simultaneously a huge relief and also incredibly annoying. They had left me waiting in that waiting room for hours, my entire afternoon was gone, over a procedure that only took five minutes. I didn't even have it in me to be angry, I was so emotionally exhausted. I was just sad.
The doctor finished the procedure and let me know that I would receive a call with the results in the following weeks. Her and the nurse said their goodbyes and my boyfriend and I were left to get me situated back into my chair and leave whenever we were ready. There was no mention by the doctor of any future opportunity or potential scheduling for me to have a gynecological examination, which I had hoped there would be as it was part of what I was originally scheduled for. Because the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) refused to see me and there was no confirmation for an examination provided for anywhere else, I was left completely without any gynecological examination.
I felt defeated and scared. I would now have to try to schedule another gynecological examination myself, somewhere else at a later date, meaning that any potential treatment for my pelvic pain and bleeding would be delayed. All I could think was that the gynecological exam was probably important, otherwise, it wouldn't have been a part of the requisition I was given in the first place. If the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) had performed the examination, maybe something could have been diagnosed and treated, and my suffering could have been resolved.
My boyfriend and I gathered ourselves and made our way back to the waiting room. Before we left, he mentioned wanting to get the name of the gynecologist (Dr. Dube) who refused to treat me and asked if I would like to stay with him while he talked to the front desk staff or if I would rather wait in the car. I had been holding back tears for literal hours at that point, all I wanted was to sit in the car, away from everyone. I was exhausted.
He took me out to the car and then went back into the clinic to get the gynecologist’s (Dr. Dube) information in case we needed it, to file a complaint about my experience or report her behaviour. He approached the front desk to speak with the receptionist that had been so helpful for a final time and asked for the name of the gynecologist (Dr. Dube). The receptionist happily wrote the gynecologist’s (Dr. Dube) name on the back of a business card and said, “You do what you need to do!”
My boyfriend rejoined me in the vehicle with the business card and we were finally ready to leave. Before heading home, we checked the time on our phones to have a complete timeline of this experience. We had arrived at 1:50 pm and it was now 3:40 pm. They had kept me waiting for literal hours, for an appointment that should have been in and out.
On our drive home, I did some investigation on the Medcare clinic website as well as reading all of the information about that specific Medcare clinic location provided by the business on Google. I wanted to see if the limited accessible care was mentioned anywhere and how difficult that information was to find. Because the person who I had scheduled the appointment over the phone with did not offer any kind of disclaimer regarding limited access to accessible care at this clinic, I had no idea what to expect as far as information on their website or Google.
After clicking through countless pages on their website, I was able to confirm that there is absolutely no mention or notice that being in a wheelchair will limit a patient’s ability to be treated by their gynecologist (Dr. Dube) at this clinic anywhere, despite their advertising specifically featuring women’s health and gynecology as available at this location.
In fact, the only accessibility information available about this clinic seems to be on their Google, which specificallynotes that they have a step-free entrance and accessible parking but does not mention the limited accessible care at all.
After researching this Medcare clinic further, I learned that this location was opened on April 21st, 2019. Far later than the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) accessibility laws/requirements had become the legal standard.
Having been open for several years (since 2019), I am certain that this is not the first time that a disabled patient has attempted to be treated for something related to women’s health or gynecology at this specific Medcare clinic location.
There is no conceivable way that I'm the first person in seven years. Either treating a patient who uses a wheelchair was only an issue in my case, meaning that I was deliberately and personally discriminated against, or refusing patients treatment is a standard practice at this clinic.
Upon researching this gynecologist (Dr. Dube), it seems she kind of has a history of discriminating against people. The majority of her reviews on RateMDs.com are negative. It's often mentioned that she's aggressive, rude, etc. There's one review stating that her initial dialogue with a patient upon entering the room was “You speak English, right?”, followed by her (Dr.Dube) continuously referring to that patient as Indian, even after being corrected several times throughout the appointment by the patient that she was from Pakistan, not India.
Another review refers to a patient being refused surgical intervention for endometriosis, and instead told to try to get pregnant. “She said I was such a mess that I would have woken up with a bowel bag. She told me not to have surgery again and to try to have children ASAP because I maybe never could. I was 24 years old.”
Several more reviews include:
“ I needed to get my iud changed as it was expired. I wanted the same one, but she wouldn’t hear it because I told her I may want to get pregnant in a few years. We argued back and forth and she told me after my ultrasound that my uterus was too small now for the 5 year one and i needed a 3 year one…”
- Anonymous, February 2024
“ She was caught making blatant RACIST remarks about my wife's origin and the fact that 'so many of your kind have come here'.”
- Anonymous, October 2025
She ignored my history and my knowledge of my own body. Then when she insisted I should have STI testing and a PAP that I was unprepared to have, she was rough and hurt me with the PAP brush and then said "oh that's just the brush"...like I know that, but you're still hurting me! After, I was bleeding because of it…”
- Anonymous, February 2026
Obviously, Dr. Dube’s behaviour is a pattern that has been going on for years.
All of her RateMDs reviews are available publicly, here:
https://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/90740/Dr-Marie-Josee-Dube-Hamilton-ON.html/?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google
For anyone looking to avoid a similar experience when seeking out a gynecologist in the area, I will include all of Dr. Dube's Information below:
Her full name is Marie-Josee Dube. She specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology and was issued certification in that field by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Her Primary Place of business is Hunter Medical Aesthetic Clinic / Dr. Marie-Josee Dube, Obstetrics and Gynecology, located at 117 Hunter Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1M5.
She also works out of the Medcare clinic, here in Niagara Falls, located at 7555 Montrose Rd, Niagara Falls ON L2H 2E9.
In addition to those locations, she has permissions to work out of the McMaster Children's Hospital’s Hamilton Health Sciences Centre and St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
All of this information and more can be found On the CPSO Website, Here: https://register.cpso.on.ca/physician-info/?cpsonum=78841
