CPhA Expresses Support for Bill C-14 before Justice Committee

More work needed to fully ensure rights of conscience and access to drugs

May 2, 2016 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) appeared today before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to both express its support for Bill C-14 and identify areas that require further work to fully address rights of conscience and access.

“CPhA believes that Bill C-14 appropriately recognizes the role of pharmacists and protects those pharmacists who choose to participate from any criminal liability,” said Phil Emberley, Director of Professional Affairs, Canadian Pharmacists Association. “We are pleased that the legislation addresses many of our recommendations and acknowledges that assisted dying involves a comprehensive team of health care professionals, including pharmacists.”

CPhA has been advocating for the inclusion of provisions to protect pharmacists at every step in the development of legislation, and is very supportive of the provisions that allow for exemptions and safeguards to ensure pharmacists have full knowledge of the purpose of any prescription intended for use in assisted dying.

While Bill C-14 provides specific protections for pharmacists, there are several unresolved considerations which CPhA will continue to watch closely, namely protection of conscience for health care providers and drug accessibility.

CPhA strongly believes that pharmacists and other health care professionals should not be compelled to participate in assisted dying; however, the federal legislation does not set out whether or how a request can be refused and leaves protection of conscience for health care professionals, including pharmacists, up to the provinces and professional regulators.

“Of great concern to pharmacists, who are all too familiar with issues of drug availability and accessibility, is that the medication used for medically assisted dying may not be available in Canada,” added Emberley. “While there is still some work to be done to understand which drugs are most appropriate for use in assisted dying, it is critical for Health Canada to ensure that the recommended drugs are available and accessible to patients and their health teams.”

CPhA has been very encouraged to see the legislation and conversation around assisted dying recognize the important role of pharmacists. After extensive consultation with pharmacists across Canada, in February 2016 CPhA released its policy framework on assisted dying, calling on governments to ensure that any legislative and regulatory framework for assisted dying in Canada balances the freedom of conscience for pharmacists and a patient’s right to access.

CPhA will continue to work closely with governments in the drafting of regulations and development of clinical practice guidelines that address how medical assisted dying should be administered at the provincial and territorial level.

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About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Mark McCondach
Director of Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 Ext. 285