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Dr. Marcus Powlowski faces medical complaint over fentanyl remarks
A complaint has been filed with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario against Member of Parliament and physician Dr. Marcus Powlowski. The complaint follows remarks made in a supplementary opinion attached to a June joint committee report regarding medical assistance in dying (MAID) and mental disorders.
In his written argument against expanding MAID access for mental illness, Powlowski suggested that painless options to end one's life, such as illicit fentanyl, are readily available in Canada. He specifically noted that in his hometown of Thunder Bay, it is arguably easier for teenagers to access fentanyl than it is for him to renew a prescription for cholesterol medication.
The complainant, Claire Brosseau, described Powlowski's comments as “irresponsible, thoughtless and dangerous.” Powlowski's position is based on the difficulty of determining if a mental illness is irremediable and the lack of consensus among practitioners on distinguishing suicidality from rational decision-making.
Entities
Claire Brosseau · College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario · Dr. Marcus Powlowski · Thunder Bay
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dr. Marcus Powlowski stated in a supplementary opinion that painless options to end one's life, such as fentanyl, are readily available in Canada. toronto.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · globalnews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Powlowski argued against expanding medical assistance in dying (MAID) for mental illness, citing the difficulty of determining if mental illness is irremediable. toronto.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · globalnews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Claire Brosseau filed a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario regarding remarks made by Dr. Marcus Powlowski. toronto.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · globalnews.ca
- [● 3 SOURCES] Powlowski argued that accessing fentanyl in Thunder Bay is arguably easier than renewing a cholesterol medication prescription. toronto.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · globalnews.ca