ARCH Statement on Doctors Operating Outside of the HCCA Framework
January 21, 2021 – On January 13, 2021 the latest version of a Triage Protocol was circulated to all Ontario Hospitals. Despite repeated demands by ARCH and other disability organizations to make the Protocol public, the government has chosen to circulate the document secretly demonstrating a continued failure to be transparent.
ARCH managed to secure a copy of the Protocol. Many of the issues that ARCH has raised since April 2020 are still very much a part of this latest version of the Protocol. This Protocol does not reflect many of the recommendations made by ARCH and other disability organizations, including the removal of discriminatory assessment tools. There also continues to be a lack of appeal and oversight mechanisms within the Triage Protocol.
Most disconcertingly, the Critical Command Centre is now contemplating requesting an Emergency Order from the government that suspend portions of the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA). In particular, this would include allowing physicians to withdraw patients from life-saving care without consent of the patient or their substitute/support decision-makers.
To read more about this, click on this link: https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/lifestyles/health/ontario-urged-to-suspend-need-for-consent-before-withdrawing-life-support-when-covid-crushes-hospitals-543305/
To read the most recent version of the Triage Protocol that was distributed to hospitals on January 13, use the following link:
ARCH continues its work to monitor and actively engage in advocacy on this issue. To learn more about ARCH’s work on the Triage Protocol, go to: https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/covid/