NOTE: The following quotes were taken from letters sent to the
Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus.
British Columbia – Minister of Health, Colin
Hanson, October 2, 2002:
“In 2000/01, there were approximately 15,500 abortions performed.
British Columbia does not make a distinction between “therapeutic”
and “medically necessary” abortions and we do not have any
studies on the risks/benefit of abortion you requested.”
Ontario – Ministry of Health, Carrie Hayward,
Director – October 7, 2002:
“The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)
does not differentiate abortion statistics but maintains therapeutic abortion
data reported by Ontario hospitals and Independent Health Facilities.
The MOHLTC does not have a risk benefit analysis for each insured service.
Funding decisions are based on advice of medical experts, accepted standards
of practice and evidence based research.”
Newfoundland and Labrador – Minister of
Health, Gerald Smith – August 22, 2002:
“I understand the decision to pay for health costs in connection
with abortion procedures in this Province largely came as a result of
views expressed by the federal government that abortions were medically
necessary services under the Canada Health Act and should be covered by
the Provinces. Indeed, for a period of time, some transfer payments from
the Federal Government were withheld from this Province because the Province
did not cover the full cost of abortion services. We do not differentiate
with respect to abortions provided in our Province as we have to assume
that all abortions provided by physicians are therapeutic and medically
necessary, as in the case of other health services. In fact, we have no
basis to conclude otherwise as Canada Health Act insured services are
deemed medically necessary.”
Prince Edward Island – Minister of Health,
Jamie Ballem – August 6, 2002:
“Prince Edward Island hospitals doe not perform any abortions.
Our residents are usually referred to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for
this procedure, with adherence to specific criteria around the approval
process for procedures that are deemed medically necessary by the PEI
Medical Insurance Plan.”
Northwest Territories – Minister of Health,
J. Michael Miltenberger – August 8, 2002:
“Our health information systems do not allow us to separate
with precision therapeutic and medically necessary abortions. To my knowledge,
there has not been a risk/benefit analysis on abortions completed in the
NWT. Currently, the NWT does not use a standard tool for measuring the
risks of an abortion.”
Saskatchewan – Minister of Health, John
T. Nilson, Q.C. – July 26, 2002:
“Our government respects the provisions of the Canada Health
Act and the 1988 Supreme Court of Canada decision on the right of the
individual to access abortion services. Under the Canada Health Act, provincial
medical insurance plans are required to provide coverage for medically
necessary services. In Saskatchewan, if an induced abortion (therapeutic
abortion) is necessary, it will be provided in a safe environment where
professional care and counselling services are available. As for the risk/benefit
analysis on abortion, Saskatchewan Health has not conducted any such studies.”
New Brunswick – Minister of Health, Elvy
Robichaud – July 11, 2002:
“For your background, Regulation 84-20 Schedule 2(a.1) of the
Medical Services Payment Act indicates that abortion is eligible for payment
by New Brunswick Medicare when: ‘performed by a specialist in the
field of obstetrics and gynaecology in a hospital facility approved by
the jurisdiction in which the hospital facility is located, and two medical
practitioners certify in writing that the abortion was medically required’.
A defined as a medically required service, the procedure is considered
necessary for the health of the individual in question and may be performed
in all health regions of the province. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide
any risk/benefit analysis data on abortion in New Brunswick, as no such
study exists.”
Nova Scotia – Minister of Health, Jamie
Muir – July 16, 2002:
“Data on the number of therapeutic abortions can be made available
from our Performance Measurement and health Informatics section. The administrative
data collected using the ICD-9-CM coding and classification system do
not further distinguish between ‘therapeutic’ and ‘medically
necessary’. No risk/benefit analysis on abortions has been conducted
in Nova Scotia.”
Alberta – Minister of Health, Gary G. Mar,
Q.C. – July 18, 2002:
“The Alberta government’s position is to fund only abortions
that are medically necessary. As with any insured service, government
relies on the professional judgement of physicians, to determine when
an abortion is medically required and payable by the Alberta Health Care
Insurance Plan. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta has
developed guidelines for a patient and her physician to use in determining
the medical practice of pregnancy termination. Alberta does not have a
risk/benefit analysis of abortions, my department produces an annual report,
Alberta Reproductive Health: Pregnancy Outcomes, which reported a total
of 10,164 abortions and 37,797 lives births in Alberta in 1999.”
Manitoba – Minister of Health, Dave Chomiak
– August 2, 2002:
“In Manitoba, abortion services are provided at the Health Sciences
Centre, the Brandon General Hospital and the Morgentaler Clinic. Abortion
services performed in Manitoba hospitals are an insured service. Manitoba
does not pay physician or facility fees for procedures performed at the
Morgentaler Clinic. Approximately 3100 abortions are performed each year
in Mantioba hospitals; however, Manitoba does not require or collect information
on abortions as being ‘therapeutic’ or ‘medically necessary’.
In response to your second request, Manitoba Health staff are not aware
of a risk/benefit analysis on abortion carried out in this province.”
GARRY
BREITKREUZ, MP ASKS THE KEY QUESTION