In his address before the annual Canadian Medical Association general council meeting, Clements stressed, "The supervised injection site undercuts the ethic of medical practice and sets a debilitating example for all physicians and nurses, both present and future in Canada."
Clement's stand appears to have the blessing of the Conservative Party as its MPS in Vancouver and Toronto send leaflets to residents that stated, "Junkies and pushers don't belong near children and families. They should be in rehab or behind bars."
CMA president Dr. Brian Day cited a survey of Canadian doctors, in which 79 percent expressed support for harm-reduction measures which may have a positive effect on poor health results, including safe injection sites. Day accused Clement of "manipulating medical ethics to make a political point."
The health minister said Monday he was in favor of keeping the Vancouver facility, the Insite clinic, open, but it must amend its mandate from drug maintenance to preventing and treating drug addiction.
The federal government attempted to have Insite closed, but was prevented by a British Columbia court ruling. The case is being appealed by the Harper government.
