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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - September 10, 2018

What a year it's been for the Canadian Medical Association.

First, just one year ago in August 2017, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) dropped the word 'physician' from its vision and mission statements, much to the surprise of many doctors across the country leaving them feeling abandoned.

Then, at the beginning of June 2018, the CMA sold the trust of doctors in MD Financial to the Bank of Nova Scotia for nearly C$2.6 billion. Now in August 2018, after 151 years, the CMA has dissolved the General Council, the parliament of Canadian medicine, as stated in the constitution itself.

Are these changes forward looking and preparing for the future or eroding the work, achievements and structures of the medical profession? Is direct physician input being replaced by filtered input that serves programs and bureaucracy?

Dr Eric Cadesky, DoctorsOfBC President, in his president's blog reports on the 2018 CMA meeting in Winnipeg that just recently wrapped up.

He shares,  "In past years, the CMA’s General Council meeting (GC) – the 'medical parliament of Canada' –focused on doctors debating motions on evolving and important topics ... the CMA this year instead organized a two-day Health Summit comprised of speakers and panel discussions. ... As is usual, the federal health minister attended, but was interviewed by a non-physician rather than giving a speech, and while she repeatedly stated she was “here to listen” she did not take any questions from the audience ... followed by the CMA’s Annual General Meeting and a pared-down GC without motions; many felt there was not enough time to debate the proposed changes to CMA governance and the Code of Ethics and Professionalism."

Paul Blanc, University of California professor of medicine, chair of occupational and environmental medicine and author of the book "Fake Silk - The Lethal History of Viscose Rayon" has written about the dangers and health effects to workers in the manufacturing of these materials.

In a recent radio interview on CBC The Current he talks of the dangers and medical effects of exposure to carbon disulfide used in the manufacturing process and the diversity of products. He speaks of places where there are better working conditions and worker safeguards while there are other places where this is not so.

The toxic effects of carbon disulfide are dramatic and onset early. It easily travels into brain tissue and causes insanity along with other medical problems.