That the Canadian Medical Association explore the changing relationships of physicians with their patients and communities related to the expanding role of patients in decision-making and self-care.
That the Canadian Medical Association explore the changing relationships of physicians with their patients and communities related to the expanding role of patients in decision-making and self-care.
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That the Canadian Medical Association explore the changing relationships of physicians with their patients and communities related to the expanding role of patients in decision-making and self-care.
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau & Ministers Taylor and Hussen,
We are writing to you today as members of the health community to urge your action on a crucial matter pertaining to health and human rights. You will no doubt be aware that the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) recently issued a landmark decision condemning Canada for denying access to essential health care on the basis of immigration status based on the case of Nell Toussaint.
Nell is a 49-year-old woman from Grenada who has been living in Canada since 1999, and who suffered significant negative health consequences as a result of being denied access to essential health care services. The UNHRC’s decision condemns Canada’s existing discriminatory policies, and finds Canada to be in violation of both the right to life, as well as the right to equality and freedom from discrimination.
Based on its review of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UNHRC has declared that Canada must provide Nell with adequate compensation for the significant harm she suffered. As well, they have called on Canada to report on its review of national legislation within a 180-day period, in order “to ensure that irregular migrants have access to essential health care to prevent a reasonably foreseeable risk that can result in loss of life”. The United Nations Special Rapporteur has pushed for the same, calling on the government “to protect health-related rights to life, security of the person, and equality of individuals and groups in situations of vulnerability”.
Nell is one of an estimated half million people in Ontario alone who are denied access to health coverage and care on the basis of their immigration status, putting their health at risk. As members of Canada’s health community, we are appalled by the details of this case as well as its broad implications, and call on the government to:
1. Comply with the UNHRC’s order to review existing laws and policies regarding health care coverage for irregular migrants.
2. Ensure appropriate resource allocation, so that all people in Canada are provided universal and equitable access to health care services, regardless of immigration status.
3. Provide Nell Toussaint with adequate compensation for the significant harm she has suffered as a result of not receiving essential health care services.
For more information on this issue, please see our backgrounder here: https://goo.gl/V9vPyo.
Sincerely,
Arnav Agarwal, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
Nisha Kansal, BHSc, MD Candidate, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
Michaela Beder, MD, Psychiatrist, Toronto ON
Ritika Goel, MD, Family Physician, Toronto ON
This open letter is signed by the following organizations and individuals:
Bathurst United Church
TOPS
1. Arnav Agarwal, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
2. Nisha Kansal, BHSc, MD Candidate, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
3. Michaela Beder, MD FRCPC, Psychiatrist, Toronto ON
4. Ritika Goel, MD, Family Physician, Toronto ON
5. Gordon Guyatt, MD FRCPC, Internal Medicine Specialist, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
6. Melanie Spence, RN, Nursing, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Toronto ON
7. Yipeng Ge, BHSc, Medical Student, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON
8. Stephen Hwang, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
9. Gigi Osler, BScMed, MD, FRCSC, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa ON
10. Anjum Sultana, MPH, Public Policy Professional, Toronto ON
11. Danyaal Raza, MD, MPH, CCFP, Family Medicine, Toronto ON
12. P.J. Devereaux, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, McMaster University, Brantford ON
13. Mathura Karunanithy, MA, Public Policy Researcher, Toronto ON
14. Philip Berger, MD, Family Physician, Toronto ON
15. Nanky Rai, MD MPH, Primary Care Physician, Toronto ON
16. Michaela Hynie, Prof, Researcher, York University, Toronto ON
17. Meb Rashid, MD CCFP FCFP, Family Physician, Toronto ON
18. Sally Lin, MPH, Public Health, Victoria BC
19. Jonathon Herriot, BSc, MD, CCFP, Family Physician, Toronto ON
20. Carolina Jimenez, RN, MPH, Nurse, Toronto ON
21. Rushil Chaudhary, BHSc, Medical Student, Toronto ON
22. Nisha Toomey, MA (Ed), PhD Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
23. Matei Stoian, BSc, BA, Medical Student, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
24. Ruth Chiu, MD, Family Medicine Resident, Kingston ON
25. Priya Gupta, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
26. The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO), Toronto, ON
27. Mohammad Asadi-Lari, MD/PhD Candidate, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
28. Kathleen Hughes, MD Candidate, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
29. Nancy Vu, MPA, Medical Student, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
30. Ananthavalli Kumarappah, MD, Family Medicine Resident, University of Calgary, Calgary AB
31. Renee Sharma, MSc, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
32. Daniel Voloshin, Medical Student , McMaster Medical School , Hamilton ON
33. Sureka Pavalagantharajah, Medical Student, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
34. Alice Cavanagh , MD/PhD Student, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
35. Krish Bilimoria, MD(c), Medical Student, University of Toronto, North York ON
36. Bilal Bagha, HBSc, Medical Student, St. Catharines ON
37. Rana Kamhawy, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
38. Annie Yu, Medical Student, Toronto ON
39. Samantha Rossi, MA, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
40. Carlos Chan, MD Candidate, Medical Student, McMaster University, St Catharines ON
41. Jacqueline Vincent, MA, Medical Student, McMaster, Kitchener ON
42. Eliza Pope, BHSc, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
43. Cara Elliott, MD, Medical Student, Toronto ON
44. Antu Hossain, MPH, Public Health Professional, East York ON
45. Lyubov Lytvyn, MSc, PhD Student in Health Research, McMaster University, Burlington ON
46. Michelle Cohen, MD, CCFP, Family Physician, Brighton ON
47. Serena Arora, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
48. Saadia Sediqzadah, MD, Psychiatrist, Toronto ON
49. Maxwell Tran, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
50. Asia van Buuren, BSc, Medical Student, Toronto ON
51. Darby Little, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
52. Ximena Avila Monroy, MD MSc, Psychiatry Resident, Sherbrooke QC
53. Abeer Majeed, MD, CCFP, Family Physician, Toronto ON
54. Oluwatobi Olaiya, RN, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
55. Ashley Warnock, MSc, HBSc, HBA, Medical Student, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
56. Nikhita Singhal, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
57. Nikki Shah, MD Candidate, Medical Student, Hamilton ON
58. Karishma Ramjee, MD Family Medicine Resident , Scarborough ON
59. Yan Zhang, MSc, Global Health Professional, Toronto ON
60. Megan Saunders, MD, Family Physician, Toronto ON
61. Pooja Gandhi, MSc, Speech Pathologist, Mississauga ON
62. Julianna Deutscher, MD, Resident, Toronto ON
63. Diana Da Silva, MSW, Social Worker, Toronto ON
Health Care Coverage for Migrants: An Open Letter to the Canadian Federal Government
Sign here - https://goo.gl/forms/wAXTJE6YiqUFSo8x1
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Ginette P. Taylor, Minister of Health
The Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
CC: Mr. Dainius Puras, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau & Ministers Taylor and Hussen,
We are writing to you today as members of the health community to urge your action on a crucial matter pertaining to health and human rights. You will no doubt be aware that the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) recently issued a landmark decision condemning Canada for denying access to essential health care on the basis of immigration status based on the case of Nell Toussaint.
Nell is a 49-year-old woman from Grenada who has been living in Canada since 1999, and who suffered significant negative health consequences as a result of being denied access to essential health care services. The UNHRC’s decision condemns Canada’s existing discriminatory policies, and finds Canada to be in violation of both the right to life, as well as the right to equality and freedom from discrimination.
Based on its review of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UNHRC has declared that Canada must provide Nell with adequate compensation for the significant harm she suffered. As well, they have called on Canada to report on its review of national legislation within a 180-day period, in order “to ensure that irregular migrants have access to essential health care to prevent a reasonably foreseeable risk that can result in loss of life”. The United Nations Special Rapporteur has pushed for the same, calling on the government “to protect health-related rights to life, security of the person, and equality of individuals and groups in situations of vulnerability”.
Nell is one of an estimated half million people in Ontario alone who are denied access to health coverage and care on the basis of their immigration status, putting their health at risk. As members of Canada’s health community, we are appalled by the details of this case as well as its broad implications, and call on the government to:
1. Comply with the UNHRC’s order to review existing laws and policies regarding health care coverage for irregular migrants.
2. Ensure appropriate resource allocation, so that all people in Canada are provided universal and equitable access to health care services, regardless of immigration status.
3. Provide Nell Toussaint with adequate compensation for the significant harm she has suffered as a result of not receiving essential health care services.
For more information on this issue, please see our backgrounder here: https://goo.gl/V9vPyo.
Sincerely,
Arnav Agarwal, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
Nisha Kansal, BHSc, MD Candidate, McMaster University, Hamilton ON
Michaela Beder, MD, Psychiatrist, Toronto ON
Ritika Goel, MD, Family Physician, Toronto ON
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) endorses the Joint Policy Statement: Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Realities and Access to Services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada as outlined in Appendix A to BD 11-113.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) endorses the Joint Policy Statement: Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Realities and Access to Services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada as outlined in Appendix A to BD 11-113.
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The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) endorses the Joint Policy Statement: Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Realities and Access to Services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada as outlined in Appendix A to BD 11-113.
