Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 20, 1992, regarding consultation with elders in the area of elective surgery. Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure the honourable Member for Deh Cho that there is a process for obtaining informed consent from patients. Consultation normally takes place between the patient, members of the family, as appropriate, the nurse, doctor, and, depending on the community, either the clerk-interpreter or the community health representative. All health staff are aware of the consultation process and the need to ensure that patients and relatives are well informed.
It would be inappropriate for me to discuss the medical history of the deceased elder in question, but I can assure the honourable Member that the patient's condition was such that surgery was warranted and considered critical. Thank you.