Dear Members,
When I became president of the Alberta Medical Association, I pledged to defend the integrity of our profession and the trust placed in us by Albertans. Today, I’m writing with deep concern.
Across Alberta, children with gender dysphoria are already navigating complex physical, emotional and social challenges. Mental health issues can be exacerbated by societal reaction to their gender questioning and how they express it. Today, they are facing new uncertainty. Earlier this afternoon, the government introduced Bill 9 — legislation invoking the notwithstanding clause. This legislation seeks to override a very recent Alberta court ruling that protects puberty-suppressing treatments for under-18s who are gender-questioning or seeking gender-affirming care and that found these very provisions will result in irreparable harm to young Albertans.
These young Albertans deserve our compassion and care when they are seeking medical attention. What occurred today amounts to politicians stepping into the examination room — often the first (or only) safe space that these children have experienced. Government is placing itself directly between a young patient and their physician.
All Albertans should be alarmed that politicians are preparing to:
- Intrude on confidential medical conversations and interfere directly in therapeutic decisions.
- Block health care delivery to a fragile, vulnerable population in desperate need of support.
- Discard evidence-based standards of care that have been safely and responsibly administered for years to support children and families.
No matter your personal views on gender-affirming care, this event will have a chilling effect on our members. This strikes at the core of the Four Pillars of Medical Ethics by undermining patient Autonomy, preventing physicians from offering Beneficent care, risking Maleficence by hindering medically necessary treatment, and resulting in Unjust care for a vulnerable population. When a government grants itself license to override physician judgment and patient consent, who — at any stage of life — will be next?
Many voices will be raised on this issue, including our colleagues at the Canadian Medical Association, but I wanted to send you an early message to let you know how I am responding to media and government. Our members need to know that their association will speak up and defend them when their professional and ethical responsibility to provide excellent, evidence-based care to all Albertans is attacked or undermined.
I would also encourage members to remember that even while there may be public and even professional disagreement around gender-affirming care, the young Albertans at the core of this issue are real people who deserve our compassion, care and empathy. They are watching and listening, and our words and actions can help or harm.
Regards,
Brian Wirzba, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association