Eye Protest Ontario's Law

I appreciate all of your feedback, and am working to see how we can respond to the Ministry of Health prior to the implementation of this law, to ensure that 1) the language is inclusive of all pregnant people AND midwives 2) the PIDAC report recommended that an opt-in program would be the "least coercive program...judged as the most proportionate response". The opt-out program was proposed as the second best option. What has been suggested by the ministry is considerably MOR...E coercive than the opt-out system currently used in BC, and leaves room for physician/midwife/nurse prejudice and discrimination against all parents or specific people groups by allowing health care providers to refuse informed choice if their "assessment" deems the family to be high risk. I will keep you all posted if there is opportunity for advocacy, and appreciate your support See more

FINALLY!!!! On January 1, 2019, paragraph 1 of section 1 of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted: (See: O. Reg. 143/18, s. 1) 1. Within one hour after delivery, or as soon afterwards as is practicable, there shall be instilled into each conjunctival sac of the new-born child such quantity of 1 per cent solution of silver nitrate or other effective ophthalmic agent as is necessary to destroy any infectious agent that might cause ophthalmia neonatorum without... causing injury to the child, unless, at any point during the pregnancy of the mother of the child, a parent of the child requests, in writing, to their physician, public health nurse or other health care professional person, that the drops not be instilled. 1.1 If a parent of the child requests that the drops not be instilled in accordance with paragraph 1, the physician, public health nurse or other health care professional person attending at the birth of the child may grant the request only if the physician, public health nurse or other health care professional person is satisfied that, i. the parent of the child making the request has received information on the benefits and risks of administration of the ophthalmic agent, ii. the parent has received information on the likely consequences of non-administration of the ophthalmic agent, and iii. an assessment has been done by a member of a health profession set out in Schedule 1 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 to confirm there is no serious risk of transmission to the child of an infectious agent that might cause ophthalmia neonatorum.

Melanie Mullen is a producer (and new mom) here in Ontario who is in the process of making a video to help inform parents on the topic of eye prophylaxis. She is looking for financial support and/or a video editor willing to help with the project. If there is anyone in this network willing to help, please contact her. The link to her work is: http://www.chuffed.org/project/eye-protest. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

GREAT NEWS! On October 25, the Ontario government released their proposed changed to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, including a change to the Mandatory Eye Prophylaxis law to allow parents to opt-out of this treatment!!!! http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do There is still work to be done. The proposal is open for comments until Nov 8, 2017, and the law is not yet in effect. My efforts still continue as I am working to ensure that this change means t...hat parental consent is required for every baby, so that every parent is aware that this is optional. I have also submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Health for a copy of the PIDAC report, which I will share when I have received it. Thank you everyone for your support. The attached photo is a snip of the proposed change! - Liza

Happy Holidays! I received word this week that the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Council (PIDAC) had provided written recommendations to the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, who will review the report and give recommendations to the Minister of Health. I do not have access to the report yet, but it is encouraging to see some movement on this issue. I will keep you posted on any further updates I receive. Perhaps 2017 will bring change to this arc...haic law! - Liza See more

Hi everyone: Sorry for the radio silence on my end, we have had no updates other than that the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Council needs to report recommendations to the Ministry of Health. As you can see below, it was projected those recommendations would be received by June. We have had no word yet. I have written the MPPs involved just today to ask for an update, and will continue to post as I receive it. I have not forgotten about you - I daily sit wi...th families and talk about this law and the impact it has on your lives. It is my hope that we will see movement on this issue in the months to come. Thanks! - Liza