BILL No. 27 OF 1925. A BILL TO AMEND THE VENEREAL DISEASES PREVENTION ACT. NOTE. The Act under its present provisions permits the sale of medicines, etc., for venereal diseases, if approved by the regulations. The regulations approve of a great number of medicines, etc., the indiscriminate use of which is likely to be harmful. The first amendment in the bill forbids the sale of such medicines except upon the prescription of a doctor. The Bill further provides for- (

a) the compulsory medical examination of persons under arrest and charged with prostitution; (

b) medical examination at the discretion of the magis­ trate of persons under arrest and charged- (

i) with any other offence under The Criminal Code; or (ii) with any offence under The Child1'en's Protec­ tion Act; (

c) the subsequent detention of persons examined and found to be suffering from venereal disease. WALTER S. SCOTT, Legislative Counsel. (This note .does nov form any pwrt of the Bill and i.<i offered merely as a partial explanation of some of its provisions.)

BILL No .. 27 of 1925.

An Act to amend The Venereal Diseases' Prevention Act. (Assented to , 1925.) H IS MAJESTY, .by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1. l.'his Act may be cited as "The Venereal Diseases' Pre­ vention Act Amendment Act, 1925." 2. The Venereal Diseases' Prevention Act, being

chapter 61 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta, 1922, is hereby· amended as to

section 8 thereof by striking out subsection (3) thereof, and substituting therefor the following: " (3) Subsection (1) of this

section shall not apply to a registered pharmaceutical chemist in respect of the dispens­ ing to a patient of a legally qualified medical practitioner the prescription of such practitioner."

Section 3a is added to the said Act immediately after

section 3, as follows: "3a.-

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing section- ( a)' If any person is under arrest or in custody on a charge of prostitution or of being an inmate or fre­ quenter of a disorderly house, he shall be examined by a medical practitioner appointed by the Provin­ cial Board of Health in the manner prescribed by regulations made under the provisions of this Act; (

b) If any person is under arrest or in custody- (

i) in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge or Medicine Hat on any other charge under The Criminal Code, or (ii) under The Children's Protection Act of Albe1·ta, the magistrate may, if he believes or is credibly in­ formed that such person is or probably is or has been infected with, or exposed to infection from venereal disease, direct that such person shall be examined by a medical practitioner appointed by the Provincial Board of Health and in the manner pre­ scribed by regUlations made under the provisions of this Act.

2 u

(2) Every magistrate· before whom such person is brought, under the preceding section, shall remand such person during the period of examination, and upon comple­ tion of the examination, the evidence of the medical practi­ tiOller shall be taken. U(3) Incases falling under paragraphs (

a) and (b) (

i) of subsection (1), the magistrate shall, if he is satisfied that the person charged has venereal disease, direct that such person shall be committed to the nearest gaol to be held there until the Provincial Board of Health shall certify that such person is free from venereal disease or is non-infective, or he may in the discretion of the magistrate be sent to a hospital for treatment, provided that such person furnish bonds ac­ ceptable to the magistrate to remain in the hospital until the Provincial Board of Health shall certify that such per­ son is free from venereal disease or is non-infective, and provided further that all expenses for hospital accommoda­ tion and medical treatment shall be paid in advance by such person.

" ( 4) In cases falling under paragraph (b) (ii) of subsec­ tion (1) the magistrate shall, if he is satisfied that such person has venereal disease, direct that such person shall be sent to the provincial gaol, or to any hospital, or to any home or place where adequate treatment can be obtained, to be held there until the Provincial Board of Health shall certify that such person is free from venereal disease or is non-infective. "

(5) The magistrate may take evidence on oath or other­ wise as he may deem desirable in each individual case. U

(6) For every examination so made at the request of the magistrate and the necessary attendance at court,' a fee of ten dollars shall be paid to the medical practitioner appointed by the Provincial Board of Health, provided he is not already on the pay roll of the Province. U

(7) If the person charged has sufficient funds, such per­ son shall pay the fee, and in default may be committed to gaol until such fee is paid. U

(8) If the person charged has been a resident for three months of any city, town, village or municipal district, and is unable to pay, such city, town, village, or municipal district shall pay the said examination fee. "

(9) Hospital accommodation approved of by the Provin­ cial Board of Health shall be provided in the provincial gaols for the reception, care and treatment of all such cases, and the gaol physician shall be responsible for the treatment as provided herein." 4. This Act shall come into force on the ............ day of .......................... 19 ... .

No. 27: FIFTH SESSION FIFTH LEGISLATURE 15 GEORGE V 1925 BII~L

An Act to amend The Venereal Diseases Prevention Act. Received and read the First time .... , ............... . Second time .................. . Third time ................... . EDMONTON: J. W. JEFFERY, KING'S PRINTER A.D. 1926 Title: 1925 (5th, 5th) Bill 27,

An Act to amend The Venereal Diseases' Prevention Act