Government loses appeal to close Insite
The BC Court of Appeal rejected the federal government's appeal of a lower court's decision that Ottawa has no power to shut down the Vancouver supervised-injection site Insite. [BC Court of Appeal decision]
The judges' reasoning relied on a complex and sure-to-be-divisive argument about weighing provincial jurisdiction over health matters versus federal jurisdiction over law enforcement.
The federal government has not yet said whether or not it will appeal to the BC Supreme Court.
New Alberta health minister jumps into action
Gene Zwozdesky was selected to replace Rockin' Ron Liepert as Alberta's health minister in a recent cabinet shuffle, and Mr Zwozdesky has not hesitated in getting involved in the province's healthcare disputes. [Edmonton Journal]
He quickly ordered planned bed closures halted [CTV News] and made comments that prompted speculation he might dismiss Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett, though the new minister denied that he planned to do so. [Edmonton Journal]
Mr Liepert has been assigned to head the energy ministry -- certainly not a demotion from the health portfolio -- so it's unlikely that Mr Liepert's approach to health systems management is being repudiated in this cabinet shuffle.
MORE NEWS FROM ACROSS CANADA
- A new study found that doctors' use of computers during clinical exams doesn't bother patients. [Canadian Family Physician]
- An Alberta government commission report suggested revising the province's Health Act to protect patients' rights. The report included some obliquely coded language about privatizing services, but members of the commission claimed the suggested revisions still conform to the Canada Health Act. [Calgary Herald]
- Last month, a non-doctor was elected president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta for the first time ever. "Having a public member as president sends the signal that we act on behalf of the public," said registrar Dr Trevor Theman. The Calgary Herald wrote that it may be the first time a non-doctor was elected to head any province's medical regulatory body. [Calgary Herald]
- The licence approving the weight-loss drug sibutramine was suspended in the UK over concerns about dangerous cardiovascular side effects, and new warnings were added to the drug in the United States. [BBC News] Sibutramine is still available in Canada, where it is sold as Meridia and Apo-Sibutramine. A Health Canada review investigating cardiovascular side effects in 2003 declared the drug safe for use. [Health Canada review]
Photo: Vancouver Coastal Health
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