Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to ask the Minister of Health if, after reviewing much of the media reports that have been available to him and some of the comments made to him by medical practitioners who provide services in the area of proper procedures for abortions, whether or not the Minister is prepared to allow for a public hearing or inquiry into general procedures for this medical procedure in the Northwest Territories.
Debates of March 30th, 1992
Topics
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I do not think a public review would serve any purpose. I believe I have asked for an independent review of the procedures that are taking place here at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital with respect to the performing of abortions. I believe that will provide the public with the information that is currently being sought.
Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a supplementary question for the Minister of Health. In light of all the complaints that have come forward within the last week, why is the Minister not prepared to allow a general inquiry to hear the concerns of the women of the Northwest Territories?
Supplementary To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned with this matter, as is the public. I want this issue resolved, as well. I immediately took steps to have the Stanton board of management initiate the review. I think this will bring out all of the concerns that are out there about the issue at hand.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister of Health see that an independent, private review is going to hear from the women of the Northwest Territories and the concerns they have about this particular procedure?
Supplementary To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the intention is to get the independent review undertaken as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I think that all the concerns will be heard by the independent review group. Their recommendations will be made public.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.
Supplementary Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Health how he is going have input from medical practitioners about the particular process or procedure, now that it is to be considered by the independent, private review.
Supplementary Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Supplementary Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the independent review will be undertaken by qualified people that will be able to ascertain how best to get this information from the public.
Further Return To Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Supplementary Question O439-12(2): Request For Public Inquiry Into General Procedures For Abortions
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 509
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. In the Edmonton Journal of Saturday, March 28th, there was an article headlined, "Anesthetic Essential -Morgentaler." This is a fellow who has been a very strong advocate of proper medical procedures with regard to abortions. Yet, at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, Dr. Suzanne Perkins stated that almost all of their abortion patients are sedated with some kind of pain killer. What does 'almost all of their patients" mean? Does it mean 99 per cent, or 50 per cent? We do not have the figure in here. I would like the Minister to inform me of the percentage.
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Return To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not wish to be a referee between one media or another and what they say about whatever. I cannot speak for the procedural differences between the medical professionals. Obviously, there are some differences. That is why the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital Board is undertaking this review of abortion procedures in the Northwest Territories.
Return To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
Supplementary To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try it this way. On the same page it says that the hospital staff always use a local anesthetic on abortion patients. Which one is correct? All of the time, or some of the time?
Supplementary To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
I think it would be difficult for the Minister to interpret what is in a media report. Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I do not wish to be a referee between what is proper and what is not. I have assured the House that an independent review is going to be undertaken. The terms of reference that will be made in this review will allow that the recommendations be made public. As for the procedure itself, I have no comment on it.
Further Return To Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Question O440-12(2): Percentage Of Abortion Patients Given Anesthetic
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ms. Mike.
Question O441-12(2): Abortion Cases Referred To Southern Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 510
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. Northerners are concerned about the procedures being used to perform abortions at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. Recognizing that there have been reports that women are having to endure unreasonable levels of pain when they receive an abortion at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, and recognizing that there are facilities in southern Canada to which female patients could be referred for this surgical procedure, has the Minister taken any action to advise the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital to stop performing abortions until after the completion of the review?