An open letter to Premier Horgan on doctors' rights

Premier@gov.bc.ca
Dear Mr. Premier:

I want you to investigate the unusual circumstances of Dr. Charles D. Hoffe of Lytton, B.C. I attach two editorial comments that I have posted concerning Dr. Hoffe that explain the matter. 

Two outstanding issues surround this case:

Did the medical authorities treat Dr. Hoffe’s patients in a timely and professional manner as required? 

Are Dr. Hoffe’s constitutional rights being violated by the seeming silencing of him from making public comment about his circumstances. 

Under section 15 of the Public Health Act of B.C. 

15   – A person must not willingly cause a health hazard, or act in a manner that the person knows, or ought to know, will cause a health hazard.

The Canada Heath Act states:

“3 It is hereby declared that the primary objective of Canadian health care policy is to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.’ 

The Province is receiving over $5 billion this year under this act and hence must meet this “reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers” provision. As a matter of fact there are five conditions established by this act that must be met for the Province to receive this money, two of which are accessibility and comprehensiveness. 

It does not seem that the health authorities in Dr. Hoffe’s area complied with the provisions of these acts. Any reasonable person I think would have to come to this conclusion. 

Dr. Hoffe asked for his patients to be seen by other health professionals with more health expertise to better determine their medical condition. This did not happen in a timely manner, if at all. 

Under the Charter of Right and Freedoms of the Canadian Constitution the following is stated:

Fundamental freedoms

2 Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;

(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

There is already Constitutional challenge to many of the Provincial Public Health Orders. In this case it seems that the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons has issued statements, especially their May 6, statement, that run counter to Dr. Hoffe’s constitutional freedoms. Additionally, the Nuremberg Code and the subsequent Declaration of Helsinki, adopted by the World Health Organization, are vital relevant issues that bear upon this case. 

These are very serious issues and given they have manifested into a real live and personal circumstance here in the Province involving a certified doctor and his patients, a heath authority, and the Provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, I think citizens and taxpayers deserve a full accounting of what happened here. 

This letter will be made public. 

Hon. A. Brian Peckford P.C.
25, 220 McVickers Street
Parksville, BC, V9P 0B4

c. c. Minister of Health, Public Health Officer, Minister Of Justice, College of Physicians and Surgeons and Dr. Charles Hoffe, Adam Walker, MLA.