Date of publication: 4 Apr 2022 • 2 hours ago • 2 minutes reading • 22 comments Alberta’s Chief Physician Dr. Deena Hinshaw provides a briefing on COVID-19 in the county during a press conference in Edmonton on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia
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Public health orders given to fight the pandemic were unprecedented, Alberta’s chief health doctor Dr Dina Hinshaw admitted on Monday.
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But so was the coronavirus that continues to affect people’s health worldwide, he said at a hearing questioning the constitutionality of the Alberta government’s measures. The doctor in charge of fighting a pandemic that killed more than 4,000 Alberts was forced to go to court on Monday to defend Alberta’s emergency measures. During a cross-examination by attorney Leighton Gray in an affidavit that Hinshaw filed to justify the government’s actions, Hinshaw was asked about the various steps he had ordered, from mask orders to financial constraints. Gray suggested that Hinshaw was given extraordinary powers by the county, but said that these had existed for decades under the Public Health Act. “The events of recent years are part of what the Public Health Act was written about and part of the planning to prepare for an important public health event,” Hinshaw said.
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“The role I have taken on throughout the pandemic has been based on the way the public health law has been structured and again, the public health law has been in place for many years. “We just have not faced a public threat of this magnitude for a long time.” Gray, who represents two churches challenging Hinsaw’s orders, said the doctor was not selected by the people of Alberta but was appointed by the government. “You have never been elected by Alberta voters,” he said. “That’s right,” said the doctor. But Hinshaw said it only made recommendations for measures to combat COVID-19, and elected officials approved them before issuing the disputed orders. The lawyer added that such measures have never been imposed on Alberts in the past.
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“The way these forces have been used is unprecedented,” Gray said. “I will agree with that,” Hinshaw replied. Gray said that as a doctor, Hinsaw would have taken Hippocrates’ oath “not to do harm.” But the county chief health officer said they had to weigh in on what could hurt them the most. For example, he said, a surgeon would have to harm a patient by cutting him to correct an internal problem, but if he did not do so it would do more harm. “There are always risks and benefits to be weighed.” Gray challenged Hinshaw on specific measures, such as the mask and bans on outdoor gatherings. “We really do not know if the coverage works,” he suggested. But Hinshaw said all the evidence shows otherwise.
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“I think it is clear, the majority of the evidence is that there is a benefit (coverage),” he said. “It’s an extra layer with other protections.” Gray and lawyer Jeffrey Rath, who represent three people challenging the health measures, want Judge Barb Romaine to rule that they have violated the rights of individuals under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that it should not be declared invalid. Even if Romaine finds that the rights have been violated, it could still decide that the measures were reasonable limits under the charter. Hinshaw’s cross-examination is expected to last at least three days. [email protected] On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
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title: “Hinshaw Tells Court Public Health Measures Were Necessary " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Richard Lenters”
Date of publication: 04 Apr 2022 • 6 hours ago • 2 minutes reading • 26 comments The chief physician of Alberta Dr. Deena Hinshaw provides a briefing on COVID-19 in the county during a press conference in Edmonton on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia
Content of the article
Public health orders given to fight the pandemic were unprecedented, Alberta’s chief health doctor Dr Dina Hinshaw admitted on Monday.
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Content of the article
But so was the coronavirus that continues to affect people’s health worldwide, he said at a hearing questioning the constitutionality of the Alberta government’s measures. The doctor in charge of fighting a pandemic that killed more than 4,000 Alberts was forced to go to court on Monday to defend Alberta’s emergency measures. During a cross-examination by attorney Leighton Gray in an affidavit that Hinshaw filed to justify the government’s actions, Hinshaw was asked about the various steps he had ordered, from mask orders to financial constraints. Gray suggested that Hinshaw was given extraordinary powers by the county, but said that these had existed for decades under the Public Health Act. “The events of recent years are part of what the Public Health Act was written about and part of the planning to prepare for an important public health event,” Hinshaw said.
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“The role I have taken on throughout the pandemic has been based on the way the public health law has been structured and again, the public health law has been in place for many years. “We just have not faced a public threat of this magnitude for a long time.” Gray, who represents two churches challenging Hinsaw’s orders, said the doctor was not selected by the people of Alberta but was appointed by the government. “You have never been elected by Alberta voters,” he said. “That’s right,” said the doctor. But Hinshaw said it only made recommendations for measures to combat COVID-19, and elected officials approved them before issuing the disputed orders. The lawyer added that such measures have never been imposed on Alberts in the past.
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“The way these forces have been used is unprecedented,” Gray said. “I will agree with that,” Hinshaw replied. Gray said that as a doctor, Hinsaw would have taken Hippocrates’ oath “not to do harm.” But the county chief health officer said they had to weigh in on what could hurt them the most. For example, he said, a surgeon would have to harm a patient by cutting him to correct an internal problem, but if he did not do so it would do more harm. “There are always risks and benefits to be weighed.” Gray challenged Hinshaw on specific measures, such as the mask and bans on outdoor gatherings. “We really do not know if the coverage works,” he suggested. But Hinshaw said all the evidence shows otherwise.
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“I think it is clear, the majority of the evidence is that there is a benefit (coverage),” he said. “It’s an extra layer with other protections.” Gray and lawyer Jeffrey Rath, who represent three people challenging the health measures, want Judge Barb Romaine to rule that they have violated the rights of individuals under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that it should not be declared invalid. Even if Romaine finds that the rights have been violated, it could still decide that the measures were reasonable limits under the charter. Hinshaw’s cross-examination is expected to last at least three days. [email protected] On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
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