Canada

Résumé (seulement en anglais)

In Canada, bioethics dates back to 1976. Two remarks will facilitate readers’ understanding of this chapter. First, Canada is a federation in which health is a shared legislative jurisdiction. As far as the public health-care system is concerned, all Canadian provinces are governed by a federal law, the Canada Health Act (R.S.C., 1985, c.C-6). However, models for resource allocation and the organization of health care can vary from one province to another, and the same holds true for infrastructure and bioethics programs. This chapter provides an overview of elements common to all Canadian provinces and specific aspects of some of them, as well as commentary on the unique characteristics of Aboriginal communities. Second, readers will note the influence of the United States on the Canadian system in terms of bioethics. However, it is important to recognize that there are significant differences between the two systems, partly because Canada has opted for a public health-care model. In addition, Canadian values are different from American values, which place more emphasis on the individual than the group – although the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, adopted in 1982, has modified the relationship between the individual and group in Canada. In short, the sections of this chapter look at the history, practices, and Canadian debates sparked by the topic in question.

Ce contenu a été mis à jour le 30 septembre 2014 à 4 h 37 min.