Time for leadership and conversations

I very much appreciate Dr Shane Neilson’s article in the June issue of Canadian Family Physician and the points he raises.¹

I think most of us physicians accepted that in a time when our system is direly overwhelmed, as in northern Italy, we would make decisions that would limit access to care, ventilators, etc, for the elderly and possibly for those with disabilities. We have not had much public discussion of this issue, not even within small rural and remote hospitals and health centres.

This relative “lull” in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) activity is a good time for in-depth conversations, leadership from top ethicists, etc, at local, regional, and national levels. Is the College up for leading this?

At the least, I would be very interested to hear more from Dr Neilson and to engage in further discussion with him on this vital issue that lies at the base of our collective and individual values for life itself.

Thank you—Mahssi cho.