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2009 Nov 05 (Thu)

H1N1 Pandemic Ethics Framework

Kevin encourages the Minister of Health and Wellness to make the H1N1 Pandemic Ethics Framework public.

 

1724 Alberta Hansard November 4, 2009

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Several times in the last few days I’ve raised questions about the ethical framework being used for decision-making around the H1N1 flu vaccines. As of last week, at least, the government’s ethics framework was not completed, yet decisions with serious ethical consequences were being made. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: when will the ethics framework, that is briefly mentioned in the government’s pandemic plan, be completed?

Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, this particular member seems fixated on dying. We’re fixated on ensuring that we have as many Albertans vaccinated as we possibly can to keep Albertans from having to access our system of health care. So he can continue on this “What do we do if and when?” and we’re going to focus on keeping people healthy.

Dr. Taft: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m fixated on good decision-making. When H1N1 first hit, everyone was told that there were four priority groups because of increased risk of serious illness and death. They were young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems, and aboriginals. The plan rolled out yesterday gives priority to pregnant women and young children but not to aboriginals or to those with chronic health problems, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Will the minister of health explain the framework that was used to make these decisions?

Mr. Liepert: Well, first of all, let’s ensure that we have it clear because somehow the opposition seems to think that politically we’re making these decisions. We are not. These decisions are being made by our chief medical officer of health in consultation with all health professionals, and at the advice of the chief medical officer of health the most susceptible to getting H1N1 and having serious consequences are those children between the ages of six months and five years and, in addition, pregnant women. Mr. Speaker, with limited supplies it was the recommendation that that’s the route we go, and unlike the opposition I am not going to question the authority of our medical experts.

Dr. Taft: My question is again to the same minister. The 400,000 Albertans who received the vaccine are not the 400,000 who most needed the vaccine. As larger quantities of the vaccine become available, this government needs to ensure that those who need it most get it first. Will the minister of health commit to rolling out the vaccine on the basis of good ethics, and will he make the decision making framework for those ethics public as soon as possible?

Mr. Liepert: Well, you know, Mr. Speaker, it’s very interesting. I decided last night to take a look in Hansard as to the response by the Member for Edmonton-Riverview to the ministerial statement in this House a week ago Monday, and I also took a look at the questions from the Leader of the Opposition that same day. Not once in that response to the ministerial statement or in the questions from the Leader of the Opposition was it even mentioned about prioritizing high-risk patients. All of a sudden they come up with this idea. It was this government who suggested in the ministerial statement that all Albertans should get vaccinated but that the priority should be our high-risk patients.

 

 

Date: Thu Nov 5 20:20:06 MST 2009 Author: Rebecca IP: 68.149.137.22