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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom