Epp to Brown (REGISTERED)

In the Canadian political system, decent people can be made to say the most destructive and dishonourable things. This letter subjects people with sensitivities to a reverse onus, ignores our history, summarizes the Thomson report as saying what is, in context, the precise opposite of what it said. The Thomson report found an existing, publicly insured method of diagnosis, and recommended it?s continued support by OHIP. It is a method encouraged, today, in extension courses offerred by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Whatever provincial issues exist, Health and Welfare has responsibilities. When children are being killed unnecessarily because of misconceptions the department is fostering, the department has a legal duty of care. Zimmerman recommended moving forward on socio-economic issues, which included attitudes Zimmerman himself decried in medicine. Unfortunately, the same attitudes, based on positions Thomson and his panel had found "clearly untenable," permeate Epp?s reply. Epp does not mention what internal HWC memos had already discussed, departmental responsibilities concerning pharmaceuticals. he does not mention his department?s role in health care for aboriginals, armed forces or responsibilities concerning public health of public servants. In any event, when officials with the department are making hateful statments that are contributing to harm, the department has created its own responsibility.