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2009 Oct 30 (Fri)

H1N1 Pandemic Ethics Framework

Kevin questions why the government has not made the Pandemic Ethics Framework public.

 

1638 Alberta Hansard October 29, 2009

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. The Alberta Health Services pandemic plan estimates there will be between 130 and 400 deaths from H1N1. The same plan predicts a demand for ICU space that will overwhelm capacity, so life-and-death decisions about who gets treatment will need to be made.

The public has a right to know the ethical basis for these life-and-death decisions. The pandemic plan briefly mentions an ethics framework but does not include it. Will the minister of health make public the pandemic ethics framework that is briefly referred to in the pandemic plan?

Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, I will take that question, and I will discuss with Alberta Health Services what they’re referring to. I’m not quite sure what this member is all twisted out of shape about, but we’ll figure it out, and I’ll report back to the Assembly.

Dr. Taft: Well, Mr. Speaker, what I’m concerned about is the basis for which life-and-death decisions are going to be made, and the medical community is well aware that this is coming. People need to know how decisions like that are going to be made. They can, for example, make preparations if they know that a loved one won’t be on a priority list in an intensive care unit. I’m going to table later today a pandemic ethics framework from Ontario which is fully public. Can the Minister of Health and Wellness tell the Assembly why Alberta’s ethics framework has not been made public?

Mr. Liepert: I think I answered that question, Mr. Speaker.

Dr. Taft: You did no such thing, and you’re sloughing off your job. Why has it taken this administration several months longer than Ontario to even, apparently, begin to address the issue of an ethics framework for life-and-death decision-making?

Mr. Liepert: Just to be clear, if the member didn’t understand my earlier answer, I said that I would check with Alberta Health Services, and I would provide him with an answer.

 

 

Date: Fri Oct 30 09:34:55 MDT 2009 Author: Rebecca IP: 142.244.156.227