OTTAWA, July 18, 2002 (LSN.ca) – The Romanow Commission which was to travel the country to assess Canadian’s views on the sustainability of the health care system shut out pro-lifers from the supposedly open discussions all across the country. Mary-Ellen Douglas, of Campaign Life Coalition Canada told LifeSite that the Commission recently submitted its report to Parliament
After having made appointments to present to the commission, pro-lifers who had to submit their points in writing beforehand had their appointments canceled with the excuse of lack of time or space. However, this circumstance was repeated all across the country even though some of the applications to present were submitted well in advance of the submission deadlines.
While no presentations were allowed to be made, written submissions on pro-life position was made. “As an elective procedure, it’s clear that abortions are not medically necessary and should be removed from the list of items covered by public expense.” The discussion paper released by the Commission last week suggests three ways of dealing with determining what procedures should be listed as ‘medically necessary’. 1 – Define such things specifically in the Canada Health Act. 2 – Have it decided by an expert panel (which the Commission warns would be open to pressure from interest groups). 3 – Leave it to doctors to decide on a patient by patent basis.