Articles

About Articles The following articles are published by the Health Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association. Members are encouraged to submit articles. About Articles

Editor: Rozmin Mediratta

Today
Today

The Protecting Patients Act, 2017: What Regulated Health Professionals Need to Know

  • June 13, 2017
  • Lindsay Kantor

On May 30, 2017, the Protecting Patients Act, 2017, (PPA) formerly known as Bill 87, received Royal Assent. The PPA amends several pieces of legislation, including the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). This article focuses on some of the major changes to the RHPA which have been brought about by the PPA.

Health Law

Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: One Year Later

  • May 15, 2017
  • Melissa Perry

Since the Canadian federal government introduced legislation governing medical assistance in dying (“MAiD”), the provinces and territories, which are responsible for the delivery of health care services in Canada, have adopted a variety of processes and procedures to deal with requests for MAiD.

Health Law

Ethical Dimensions of Health Law Practice

  • February 21, 2017
  • Erin Dobbelsteyn

Following a very successful program at the OBA Institute 2016, the Health Law Section will be hosting another program at the upcoming OBA Institute on February 10, 2017 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Inaugural Susan Hilary Davidson Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Law and End of Term Program: The Buzz on Medical Marijuana

  • December 08, 2016
  • Carla Whillier

The Health Law Executive ended the 2015-2016 term with a special year-end dinner program. Lonny Rosen was presented with the first inaugural OBA Susan Hilary Davidson Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Law. Following the award presentation, the Health Law Section explored the complex issues associated with medical marijuana.

Health Law

Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Promises Legislative Changes Relating to Sexual Abuse

  • October 03, 2016
  • Lisa Spiegel, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP

Health care professionals are prohibited from engaging in sexual acts, conduct, or behaviour with their patients. It is professional misconduct to engage in such conduct, which is defined as “sexual abuse” in the governing legislation. The legislation attempts to impose a zero tolerance approach to sexual abuse. Sexual abuse involving certain frank sexual acts results in the mandatory revocation of a regulated health professional’s certificate of registration.

Health Law

IPC Releases Guidance on Communicating PHI by Email

  • October 03, 2016
  • Daniel Girlando and John M. McIntyre

​The Fact Sheet sets out a number of requirements that the IPC will expect health information custodians to meet if they decide to use email to communicate personal health information.

Health Law

Exempting Children from Vaccinations: The Immunization School Pupils Act and its Amendment

  • October 03, 2016
  • Rebecca J. R. Hong

There are few paediatric health issues in recent memory more contentious than immunizations. Given the current trends of questioning the safety of vaccinations despite scientific evidence to the contrary, and as underscored by the outbreaks of measles in Ontario last year, the regulatory framework for recording and exempting immunizations in Ontario appears to require enhancement.

Health Law

Exempting Children from Vaccinations: The Immunization School Pupils Act and its Amendment

  • October 03, 2016
  • Rebecca J. R. Hong

There are few paediatric health issues in recent memory more contentious than immunizations. Given the current trends of questioning the safety of vaccinations despite scientific evidence to the contrary, and as underscored by the outbreaks of measles in Ontario last year, the regulatory framework for recording and exempting immunizations in Ontario appears to require enhancement.

Health Law