Mr. Whitford.
Debates of March 30th, 1992
Topics
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Return To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Return To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Ms. Mike.
Supplementary To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Have there been any abortions or D and C procedures at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital since March 24th?
Supplementary To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Further Return To Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mrs. Marie-Jewell,
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
March 29th, 1992
Page 510
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I am really appalled and astounded that a Minister of this government, when we question, basically states that they do not have the authority to tell the doctors what to do, in their response. I cannot indicate how disappointed I am in hearing that type of remark, The Minister of this government has a statutory obligation to ensure that medical procedures that are maintained or are used in the Territories are acceptable to people of the North.
Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister of Health, since he indicated in this House that a directive to relieve pain would be given to women that abortions are performed on, has he produced this directive?
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I brought this matter to the attention of the department as soon as I heard about it. The department then began looking into it so I would have some answers on Tuesday, and I did. I responded as soon as I was informed of this matter through the media. The department then ascertained certain information for me and because, as I said earlier on, I cannot tell a doctor what to do and how to perform a particular type of procedure, I wanted the Stanton board to assure the public that their safety would be protected. That is why a few moments ago I advised the House that the doctors themselves have taken on the responsibility to ensure that patients now, any patient who goes in for an abortion or a procedure similar to that, a D and C, would have control over the amount of additional pain medication that they would receive through a self-administered, rapid-acting inhalant. I have been informed that this is fast-acting, and it will produce a pain suppressing reaction. I think this is all I can assure the House; that women seeking procedures of this nature will themselves be in control of fast acting medication that will relieve a certain amount of discomfort.
Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the Minister has understood my point. I would like to let the Minister know that as a Minister, the authority to ensure that adequate standards are maintained in the hospital, is his responsibility. I would like to ask the Minister if he can advise the House whether his failure to prepare a directive is a refusal on his part to exercise his statutory authority.
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure how to answer the question, but I think physicians must make every effort to achieve adequate pain control and they must make every effort to be sensitive and responsive to indication that
their patients are uncomfortable. I believe that my previous reply speaks for itself; that the medical profession has taken these steps without a directive, I do not think I can answer the Member's question that I have issued a directive. I cannot issue directives like that, as to what a doctor should or should not do. I think the review that will be taking place will determine whether or not procedures here are in keeping with certain standards and are up to date. Those are what the issues here are.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
If the Minister had just stated now that he will not issue a directive, then why did he state, *Yes," on Thursday when I questioned him in this House, asking him if he will develop a directive which will eliminate unnecessary pain which is posed on women that have abortion procedures taken through the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital?
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I thought I answered the Member's question. The process that I took is I got the department to become aware of this as I became aware of this on the news. We wanted to make the Stanton board aware of my concerns, and that was done and passed on to the medical profession, and the medical profession then took it upon themselves to ensure that pain medication would be administered; and how it is done -- again, I have no control over telling a physician what to do. I think a Minister's powers are limited to some things. I said that we would bring it to their attention, and we have. I am sure that the review board will determine the process.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
I believe this is my final supplementary, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister again, why did he state in this House, "Yes," he will issue a directive, develop a directive, that will eliminate unnecessary pain imposed on women, and today states to us that he cannot do that? Why did he say "Yes" in this House last Thursday?
Supplementary To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the words I used were that I would consider it.
Further Return To Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Question O442-12(2): Directive From Minister For Doctors To Relieve Pain
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.
Question O443-12(2): Abortions In Relation To This Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to pursue the matter of authority of the Minister of Health. I have before me the Territorial Hospital Insurance Services Act, and 5(e) says: "Subject to this act, the board may..." -- the board in this particular case is the THIS Board, that was replaced to be the Minister -- "...may license, supervise and inspect hospitals in the Territories and ensure that adequate standards are maintained in the hospitals." Would the Minister indicate to me what this means in terms of services that are being provided for abortion procedures in hospitals?
Question O443-12(2): Abortions In Relation To This Act
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 511
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Minister.