Pubdate: Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Sudbury Star
Contact:  http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/insite
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)

CLEMENT CLIMBS SLIPPERY SLOPE

It's doubtful federal Health Minister Tony Clement would ever 
question the ethics of doctors who try to help alcoholics kick booze.

Yet that's exactly what he did on Monday, when he attacked doctors 
who work at Vancouver's supervised drug injection site, the only one 
of its kind in North America.

Clement told an annual gathering of doctors in Montreal that the 
controversial site, where addicts shoot up their own drugs under 
medical supervision, has created a "slippery slope."

"I find the ethical considerations of supervised injections to be 
profoundly disturbing," Clement said in a speech at the Canadian 
Medical Association's annual meeting in Montreal.

"Is it ethical," he asked rhetorically, "for health-care 
professionals to support the distribution of drugs that are of 
unknown substance, or purity, or potency -- drugs that cannot 
otherwise be legally prescribed?"

Clement added that "the supervised injection site undercuts the 
ethics of medical practice and sets a debilitating example for all 
physicians and nurses, both present and future in Canada, who might 
begin to question whether it's all right to allow someone to overdose 
under their care."

The fact that Clement would attack the clinic, known as Insite, is 
not a surprise. His Conservative government doesn't like the clinic 
and wants to close it, arguing Insite promotes drug use by 
facilitating addiction.

For now, the supervised injection site is in legal limbo -- the feds 
have moved to shut it down, but supporters launched a court 
challenge. In its ruling, the B. C. Supreme Court struck down 
sections of Canada's drug laws as unconstitutional because they 
prevent Insite from operating.

The judge gave Ottawa until June 30, 2009, to bring the Controlled 
Drugs and Substances Act in line with the Charter of Rights and 
Freedoms, and gave Insite a constitutional exemption to stay open in 
the meantime.

The Conservative government has, in turn, appealed the ruling to the 
B. C. Court of Appeal, which will hear the case next April.

What sets Clement's remarks apart is not his attack on Insite, but on 
the doctors who work there. Dr. Gabor Mate, who works at the clinic, 
called Clement's comments "repugnant" and introduce "an element of 
ugliness into the discussion." That's a fair assessment.

This almost personal attack is typical of the Harper government and 
leaves many Canadians -- especially in Ontario -- with an uneasy 
feeling as we head into a federal election, likely this fall. It's 
little wonder the Tories are struggling in the polls to stay ahead of 
the Liberals, despite leader Stephane Dion's weak performance.

Clement should stick to the facts, but even there he is on shaky 
ground. Dr. Brian Day, president of the Canadian Medical Association, 
responded to Clement by saying 79 per cent of members agree that the 
injection sites work because they advocate harm reduction.

And Ann Livingston, spokeswoman for the Vancouver Area Network of 
Drug Users, said Insite has proven to be the best approach to harm 
reduction, creating a demand for such a facility in Montreal and Victoria.

So, those who actually work with drug addicts, then, say the 
supervised injection site works in treating drug addicts. That's what 
should matter to Clement, who seems content to appeal to the less 
progressive elements of the Conservative's constituency instead of 
looking at whether Insite works.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom