Justice Centre condemns College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta over 'coercive' vaccine mandate

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms expressed concerns over a September letter to medical professionals issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). The letter states the CPSA Council met on September 20 to unanimously vote in favour of a vaccine mandate for all physicians in the province against COVID-19.

Concerningly, the CPSA also confirmed it would not tolerate dissenting views from physicians or their participation in public dialogue regarding the efficacy or safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The CPSA letter claims that physicians who review the latest studies and data and express a different scientific opinion are spreading "misinformation."

"During the discussion, we unanimously agreed that, as part of the profession's social responsibility to protect Albertans, all regulated members should be fully vaccinated," reads the letter written by the CPSA Council. "There is a deep concern that those who have chosen not to be vaccinated are contributing to the public health emergency we are in today."

Dr. Eric Payne, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Calgary and pediatric neurocritical care physician at the Alberta Children's Hospital, sent a September 14, 2021 letter to the CPSA expressing his objections to taking a "novel experimental mRNA therapy," with "no long-term data."

"The medical evidence demonstrates that the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines has decreased significantly, they do not prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission or symptomatic disease, and while evidence for protection against serious illness continues to exist in Calgary, that too is dissipating globally," said Payne.

According to the Justice Centre, Alberta physicians are also "unable to provide informed consent to the 'experimental COVID-19 shots,'" despite their knowledge of medical and scientific studies and the latest data.

A new peer-reviewed paper in the well-respected Toxicology journal found "there is five times the number of deaths attributable to each inoculation vs those attributable to COVID-19 in the most vulnerable 65 and older demographic." The risk of death from COVID-19 decreased drastically as age fell, and the longer-term effects of the inoculations vaccinations groups will increase their risk-benefit ratio, perhaps substantially."

Justice Centre staff lawyer Jonathan Fernandes cited emerging evidence that called into question the efficacy of these shots.

On July 30, 2021, the director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky, confirmed that "Delta infection resulted in similarly high SARSCoV-2 viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated people. High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus."

On August 6, 2021, CDC Director Dr. Walensky stated on CNN the vaccines are working but that what they can't "do is prevent transmission."

On August 19, 2021, the CDC noted individuals were experiencing "reduced protection against mild and moderate disease."

On July 23, 2021, Israel's Health Ministry indicated that a complete course of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine was just 39 percent effective at preventing infections and 41 percent effective at preventing symptomatic illness with the Delta variant. By August 16, 2021, and despite having 78 percent of those 12 and older fully vaccinated, 59 percent of gravely ill patients in Israel were fully vaccinated.

"The College has not addressed or responded to any of the issues or information raised by Dr. Payne in his public letter," noted Fernandes. "Doctors have Charter rights, as do patients. Government and regulatory coercion to take experimental medical treatments is always a red flag."

The Council and CPSA's leadership team said they were "perturbed" by a small number of physicians they claimed spread misinformation and prescribed medications when there is no evidence of their benefits in treating COVID-19.

"We, as CPSA's Council and leadership, do not believe these practices align with a physician's professional responsibilities to their patients — they are in fact having a direct impact on the fourth wave of the pandemic," reads the letter.

They committed to a "stronger stance against these actions" to encourage transparency in the medical profession.

Though the Council claimed a "learning perspective" on their approach to COVID-19, they laid down the law on members choosing to "defy" their guidance and put "public safety at risk."

They write a formal complaint that would follow suit should a member spread misinformation, issue unsubstantiated exemptions or deferrals for vaccinations or masking, use treatments not grounded in evidence, and divert people from getting the jab.

The Council writes its members should bolster vaccination rates in Alberta, citing rising hospitalization rates and ICU admissions from mostly unvaccinated patients during the fourth wave.

"It's important to listen to your patients' concerns and not place judgement on those who are struggling with their decision to get vaccinated," reads the letter, acknowledging not everyone contemplating the vaccine is an "anti-vaxxer."

But the Council contended there was no expectation for a member to engage in arguments with people who have "fixed opinions."

"With the worsening shortage of doctors and nurses globally, regulatory bodies need to take care that they do not push out qualified and dedicated staff through their heavy-handed and intolerant policies," writes Fernandes.

The Council also admitted they don't have an endless supply of healthcare workers.

Fernandes and the Justice Centre condemned the "implied threat" of the CPSA against Alberta physicians. Their review of the scientific research and data did not give informed consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.