May

In his editorial, “Forced retirement” (BCMJ 2005;47[4]:165), Dr Anthony Salvian decries the fact that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not protect the rights of physicians working at the Vancouver General Hospital who at age 65 are forced to relinquish their privileges. The background to what, on the surface, appears to be a blatant denial of human rights is fascinating and revealing.

As Canadians we pride ourselves on our Constitution. We take pride in the fact that it protects the rights of individuals and that these rights are independent of variables such as sex, race, color, religion, and age. In fact, many of us think that various miscreants hide behind the Constitution and avoid prosecution for crimes because of its safeguards.

Postsecondary institutions in Canada pride themselves on being able to offer advanced courses and information to the public. Presumably, this material is more sophisticated than that taught in grade school. And it is assumed that the information offered has a bearing on reality and is supported by the best evidence available. We do not, for example, expect to enroll in a college math course and be taught that a triangle has four sides, nor would we anticipate that a college biology course would tell students that the human heart has three chambers.

A key strategy for controlling communicable disease in British Columbia is the immunization of children and high-risk groups against vaccine-preventable disease.

The BC Ministry of Health Services, in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control and provincial health authorities, are pleased to provide information about newly introduced vaccine programs, as well as those that have been recently implemented in BC.

Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine

In which a final plea to spare the life of convicted murderer Robert Wall is made, his last moments on earth accounted, and a daring escape attempted.