MEDICO-LEGAL SOC TORONTO NOV. 6 Wed.

MLST Dinner Program: Brian Cuthbertson et al. v. Hassan Rasouli Wednesday, November 6, 2013 5:30 p.m. Reception, 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Presentations Metropolitan Hotel (Soon to be Doubletree by Hilton - 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto) On Friday October 18th, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Brian Cuthbertson, et al. v. Hassan Rasouli by his Litigation Guardian and Substitute decision-maker, Parichehr Salasel (Ont) (34362). A 5-2 majority of the Supreme Court in Rasouli dismissed the appeal. The majority found that withdrawal of life support requires consent because the act of withdrawing life support is treatment, as it serves a “health-related purpose” by preventing suffering and indignity at the end of life, is closely associated with palliative care, and entails physical interference. The Court held that the withdrawal of life support “impacts patient autonomy in the most fundamental way.” The Supreme Court drew a distinction between the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments and that of other medical services. The MLST has convened a panel of physicians and lawyers with intimate knowledge of the case to comment on the future implications of the decision for physicians, hospitals and lawyers. Be prepared to attend what promises to be a very lively and informative event -with perspectives on the case that only The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto can present. Program Chair: Daphne Jarvis, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and First Vice-President, MLST Other Commentators: Andrew Faith, Polley Faith, LLP and Member of Council, MLST Dr. Andrew Baker, Chief of Critical Care Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital and Member of Council, MLST

CMAJ: Canadian Medical Inferiority Complex.

CMAJ Oct.15 printed one page PRACTICE advice on "MGUS". Authors were from Antwerp & Sydney. In Continental Europe UTRECHT is the main centre for study of "MGUS" & Plasma cell cancer. MGUS converts to PCC at 1% a year after diagnosis. Toronto has a World famous Plasma Cell cancer (aka "Multiple Myeloma") centre under the direction of Prof Donna REECE. MD(Baylor 1978) FRCPC No mention of on-line info and literature for MDs & patients from the INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION.12650 Riverside Drive,Suite 206,North Hollywood,CA.91607-3421 Also omitted: "Serum Free Light Chain Analysis" (6th. Ed.) The Binding Site Group ltd.. Author: UK Univ.Birmingham Prof A.R. BRADWELL (wikilite.com) ISBN: 9780704427969 USA$75 350pp with many multi-colour graphs & illustrations.

Toronto Barrister Gary HODDER wins Supreme court verdict

Sunnybrook Hosp.doctors cannot stop life support of patient in coma for past three years at cost of $2000 a day.

CMAJ OBIT Internist & Psychiatrist J.R. BINGHAM d. Aug.5.2013 aet 98.

Died Lindsay,Ont. MD(Man.1940)RCN WW2. University Gastroenterologist At 55y studied Psychiatry @ CLARKE INSTITUTE (COMMENT: LOWER OVERHEADS. Less physically taxing)

Organisation for Economic co-operation & Development: World Literacy and Numeracy

www.oecd.org/canada Stats Can: 48% Canadians are FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE (difficulty in filling forms). GPs often forced by patients to fill forms ( time not paid by OHIP) If GP refuses, threat of complaint to CPSO. OECD STATS: LITERACY Canada 15th place below Slovakia. NUMERACY Canada 16th place below Poland.

UK DAILY MAIL: WORLD LITERACY

at the same level, whereas countries like Korea are showing huge improvement between generations Picture of Britain: This graph shows how the UK compared to other industrial nations when it came to numeracy Interesting: Countries like Japan, Netherlands and Sweden were the top performing in terms of literacy, even though children start school often years later than British youngsters Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2449481/Education-crisis-Up-8-5MILLION-numeracy-level-10-year-old.html#ixzz2hBd5fqRR

COMSOC: ONLY ODB DRUGS TO BE PAID for patients on Welfare (aka "Ontario Works")

Prescription Drug Coverage Under Ontario Works Discretionary Benefits Policy (COMMENT "Ontario Works" = WELFARE) The Ministry of Community and Social Services has informed the OMA of a change to the Ontario Works discretionary benefits policy that will impact patients who receive social assistance. Effective September 1, 2013, prescription drugs not listed on the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Formulary will no longer be covered by Ontario Works as a discretionary benefit. This change will impact both Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients. In order to transition existing clients who receive coverage under this benefit, administrators will have the discretion to continue to fund prescription drugs not listed on the ODB Formulary under exceptional circumstances for a period of up to six months, until February 28, 2014. The transitional period will allow these clients time to speak with their physicians to arrange alternative approaches to their treatment. It is anticipated that some social assistance recipients who are currently being prescribed medication that is not listed on the ODB Formulary may be approaching their physicians in the coming weeks and months to arrange alternative approaches to their treatment. Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients will continue to have access to prescription medication through the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary as a mandatory benefit. The Honourable Ted McMeekin Minister of Community and Social Services Ted McMeekin was re-elected into the riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale in 2011 for a fourth consecutive term. He was appointed Minister of Community and Social Services in February 2013. Previously, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister of Consumer and Business Services. Ted has a long history of community service. He served as Mayor of Flamborough from 1994-2000 and Hamilton City Councillor from 1977-1981. As MPP for the riding of Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, Ted has been a powerful advocate for seniors, children with special needs, farm risk-management programs, strategic infrastructure investment and our local environment. Ted is a driven volunteer. He has worked to make a difference with many local organizations including the Hamilton Mental Health Association, Wesley Urban Ministries, the Five Oaks Christian Workers Centre, the Circle of Friends and Operation Lifeline. Ted served as President of both the Hamilton and Burlington YMCA and the Hamilton-Wentworth Lung Association. He has acted as an overseas volunteer, a church youth group leader and a baseball and soccer coach.