p42 s1 bill 304 b304 e.pdf

Ontario — Bills

1ST SESSION, 42ND LEGISLATURE, ONTARIO 70 ELIZABETH II, 2021 Bill 304

An Act to amend the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 respecting the provision of information about Down syndrome to expectant parents, regulated health professionals and the public Ms S. Singh Private Member’s Bill 1st Reading June 2, 2021 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Royal Assent

EXPLANATORY NOTE The Bill amends the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 to require that the Minister ensure that up -to-date, evidence based information relating to Down syndrome is made available to members and to the public . The Act is further amended to require that members share this information with expectant parents when communicating a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Bill 304 2021

An Act to amend the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 respecting the provision of information about Down syndrome to expectant parents, regulated health professionals and the public

Preamble Persons with Down syndrome and their families have historically faced discrimination and have been victims of eugenics. The discrimination faced by persons with Down syndrome continues to persist in the province of Ontario. This discrimination impacts how persons with Down syndrome access services of the provincial government, including those provided within the health care system. Such discrimination results in inequitable treatment and the exclusion of persons with Down syndrome, often limiting their full participation in the economic, social and cultural aspects of our province.

Discrimination often begins with the prenatal diagnoses of Down syndrome, when families are provided outdated, incorrect or biased information based on antiquated models of disabi lity. This information impacts how families understand the life expectancy, life outcomes, cognitive or physical abilities, as well as psychosocial outcomes of persons with Down syndrome. Misinformation regarding a diagnosis of Down syndrome reinforces neg ative stereotypes and can cause undue stress and hardship for families.

Misinformation can also cause persons with Down syndrome to face stigma before they are born and limit the ability of persons with Down syndrome to thrive. Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows: 1

Section 3 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 is amended by adding the following subsections: Information relating to Down syndrome

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), it is also the duty of the Minister to ensure that up-to-date, evidence based written information relating to Down syndrome is made available to member s and to the public, which must include the following information: 1. Information about life expectancy, cognitive and physical development, education outcomes and psychosocial outcomes of persons with Down syndrome. 2. Information about resources for families who have a family member with Down syndrome . 3.

Information about resources and supports available from community organizations across the province that are developed and approved by the Ministry of the Minister. Review of information

(3) Before making any information available to members and to the public, the Minister shall ensure that consultations take place on the content of the information with, (

a) members with particular expertise in Down syndrome; and (

b) organizations representing or advocating for persons with Down syndrome. Languages

(4) The information shall be made publicly available in both English and French, as well as in any other language s that the Minister considers appropriate. 2 The Act is amended by adding the following section: Information about Down syndrome 35.1 When communicating a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, a member shall provide to the expectant parent or parents the written information relating to Down syndrome made available by the Minister under

section 3. Commencement 3

(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) Section 2 comes into force six months after the day this Act receives Royal Assent.

Short title 4 The

short title of this Act is Harvey and Gurvir’s Law (Providing Information about Down Syndrome to Expectant Parents, Regulated Health Professionals and the Public), 2021.

Document details

Collection	Ontario — Bills
Citation	p42 s1 bill 304 b304 e.pdf
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	p42 s1 bill 304 b304 e.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	e9d86a5059a635a5b4e606b6a4cc110197202de9

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (json).