It is not lack of access to pharmaceuticals that causes expensive complications, it is excessive access

Dear Alberta Views Editors;

I was shocked to read, in the November 2016 article by Linda Mcquaig, “Medicare On Trial”, that she viewed the inability to afford drugs as a major cause of “expensive complications” and ER visits. I support pharmacare because this situation may sometimes occur, but McQuaig did not provide evidence to persuade me that this is a major problem. What is a major cause of adverse events and ER visits is excessive access to drugs. A 1998 paper in the Journal of the American Medical Assocation, for example, estimated that 106,000 Americans are killed by properly prescribed drugs in hospitals. That would amount to about 10,000 Canadians every year. And this study did not consider drugs prescribed in other settings (nursing homes, prisons etc), over the counter drugs, and improperly prescribed drugs. Pharmaceuticals are, in fact, one of the leading causes of injury of death. Not lack of access to pharmaceuticals, but access that is too easy, in a culture that believes everything can be cured with a pill, with the finger of blame pointing at both on doctors and ordinary Canadians.

Everyone is now familiar with the epidemic of opiod abuse which was not started by illegal drugs dealers, but by legal drug dealers, an epidemic that is causing a trail of death and destruction all throughout North America. This epidemic will not be mitigated by pharmacare.

Pharmacare, and medicare in general, are only funding mechanisms, and can make access to medical treatment more equitable, but they can’t deal with the epidemic of over-treatment (which involves more than just drugs). I would challenge anyone to show that, in Canada, lack of medical treatment is anywhere near as big a problem as over-treatment, mostly the overuse of pharmaceuticals.  Solutions must involve the education of everyone, not just medical professionals, about the dangers of the medical system, beginning a process of eliminating the many unnecessary and unproven treatments.  One of the problems with fee for service, which it was good to see another article in Alberta Views questioning, is that it provides an incentive to treat, and a disincentive to not treat, even if non-medical alternatives, such as changes in diet, exercise and other habits, would be far safer and, in the long run, more effective. Increasing the health of Canadians would also requires governments to have the courage to stand up to big corporations that sell products that cause disease, such as the chemical and food industries. As an added bonus, less reliance on the medical treatment system for conditions like diabetes, would massively reduce the cost of the system.

Until this day comes, it is up to individuals to educate themselves and avoid the system, despite the fact that they’re paying for it, until they absolutely need it.

Electric cars are no magic bullet

(This letter was published in the September 2016 issue of 'Alberta Views' magazine)

I don’t understand why so many environmentalists are in love with the electric car. Does it solve the problem of traffic accidents? No. Of roadkill? Of paving paradise to build roads and parking lots? Of ugly suburban development? Of better access to efficient transportation to the economically disadvantaged? It doesn’t even solve the problem of burning fossil fuels because even if we could achieve 100% renewable energy production for today’s needs, the hundreds of thousands of electric cars added onto the grid would move the yardstick out of reach again, and, batteries, tires and the manufacturing of the vehicle will have a significant environmental impact that is usually ignored. It seems to me that it is a painless way for the upper middle classes to claim the green high road with no impact on their lifestyle, ignoring the fact that there will be far fewer benefits than claimed, and maybe none. Driving a kilometer in an electric car still doesn’t make the shared environment better. It car is greenwashing of the elites by the elites. True improvements in our transportation system will come from improving pedestrian and cycling facilities, from more public transportation, and from devoting fewer resources, less energy, less space and fewer lives to the cult of the automobile, no matter how it is powered.

Light Armoured Vehicle Sales to Saudi Arabia – Response from Foreign Affairs Minister

[This is a July response to my April letter]

Dear Mr. Crowe:

Thank you for your email of April 14, 2016, concerning the situation of human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the sale of light armoured vehicles (LAVs) manufactured in Canada to that country. I regret the delay in replying to you.

The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy. Canada stands up for human rights and takes principled positions on important issues to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Canada supports a stable and prosperous Middle East, governed by freedom, tolerance and pluralism, where human rights are respected.

Of course, Canada remains concerned about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Canadian officials at the Embassy of Canada to Saudi Arabia engage regularly with Saudi officials, including the Saudi Human Rights Commission, to maintain an open, respectful and constructive dialogue on human rights issues. Canada’s engagement with Saudi Arabia on these issues extends into multilateral forums as well. For example, during Saudi Arabia’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2013, Canada noted the increased participation of women in Saudi Arabian society, including the important role they have assumed within the Shura Council. I also welcomed the local municipal elections in Saudi Arabia in December 2015, in which women voted and a number of women were elected.

I take every opportunity to raise these issues and will continue to do so. On May 23 and 24, 2016, during my visit to Saudi Arabia, I raised critical issues with senior Saudi officials with respect to human rights as well as humanitarian issues. I met with several senior Saudi officials including the King, the Crown Prince, the ministers for Education and Energy, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, who reports directly to the King. I also met with prominent women in politics, media, business and homemakers and had valuable exchanges on the evolving situation of women in Saudi Arabia. Our discussions centered on the importance of women’s rights and gender equality, two key Canadian values. Further, Canadian officials raise Canada’s concerns about human rights with senior Saudi officials on a regular basis and will continue to do so, both publicly and in diplomatic discussions.

With regard to the sale of LAVs to Saudi Arabia, Canada has sold LAVs to that country since the 1990s and has no information to suggest that these LAVs have ever been used against the Saudi population. Furthermore, an export of this type requires an export permit. Canada has some of the strongest export controls for military and strategic goods in the world. However, in light of concerns raised, Canada is introducing more rigour and transparency to its export control system. Canada is also delivering on its commitment to accede to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty on a priority basis. I am pleased to have tabled the Treaty in Parliament on June 17, 2016, which is a first formal step in this process.

You may wish to read the statement I issued on April 13, 2016, regarding the sale of LAVs to Saudi Arabia, at http://www.news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1051599.

Please be assured that the Government of Canada will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and encourage the Saudi government to respect its international human rights obligations.

Regarding the situation in Yemen, Canada is concerned about the deteriorating situation in that country. The ongoing conflict is fueling widespread instability, chaos and exacerbating a growing humanitarian crisis. Canada urges all parties to participate actively and fully in negotiations led by the United Nations to find a consensus agreement. Such an agreement will be the only acceptable and legitimate course for a political transition.

In response to the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Canada has provided $19.5 million in humanitarian assistance funding in 2015 to help meet the immediate needs of millions of conflict‑affected people in that country.

Canada welcomes Saudi Arabia’s formation of a high‑level independent committee to investigate the Saudi‑led coalition’s actions in Yemen and encourages Saudi Arabia to disclose the committee’s findings as quickly as possible.

Canada calls on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by allowing and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Punishing Parents and ignoring annual medical genocides

Seeing the irony in the reporting of the Globe and Mail, I submitted this letter, which was, of course, not published.

It is ironic that on Saturday (June 25, 2016) the Globe & Mail (Toronto based newspaper) documented the sentences given as punishment to a couple who, while clearly loving their son Ezekiel, delayed treatment that may have saved his life (we cannot actually know). But on Monday you report on an estimated 70,000 Canadians a year injured (and a good fraction killed) by the allopathic medical system that the Stephan family avoided. A recent American paper estimated that medical errors are the third leading cause of death and a 1998 JAMA paper estimated that properly prescribed drugs in hospitals are the fifth leading cause of death. Yet, out of those 70,000 Canadians injured or killed each year, probably nobody will go to jail. The parents who followed standard medical practice for their children, such as use of an antibiotic that caused an anaphylactic reaction, will not be punished. Nor will the doctors who prescribed treatments that backfired and injured or killed someone. Not even when it is a genuine error will anyone be punished. When Health Canada approves a drug that is later found to have a high rate of injury or death, nobody at Health Canada, or the drug company that twisted the data to win approval, will go to jail. This is reminiscent of an oppressive religion that tolerates abuse and deadly mistakes within its ranks, but will never tolerate dissent. And although there are not enough stakes to burn all the heretics, the modern equivalent of an occasional public hanging helps scare patients into conformity and critics into silence.

Letter to Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion regarding sales of LAVs (Light Armoured Vehicles) to Saudi Arabia

I am shocked and angered that you are facilitating the sale of weapons to one of the most repressive regimes in the world.

I understand that this will be a big financial hit for Canada. But principles cost money sometimes. How will Saudi Arabia get a message that they need to change except by brave actions?

Sending the weapons is a message that they can continue to repress their own people, and murder and destroy with impunity in Yemen, and anywhere else they care to start a war.

Please grow a backbone and do the right thing. This is a tough decision, I understand. But really it’s a choice between money and morals. Which side are you on?

Regards,
    David Crowe