Thursday June 2, 2022 | NATIONAL
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today, NDP MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) reintroduced his legislation from the previous Parliament to develop a national strategy to support and improve brain injury prevention and treatment.
He says more Canadians live with an acquired brain injury than those living with multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injuries and breast cancer combined.
Coordinating efforts of health-care workers:
As such, his bill presents a national strategy that would coordinate efforts of our dedicated health care workers and help Canadians who are living with brain injuries.
Range of severity:
More than 1.5 million Canadians suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) with symptoms that range from dizziness and motion sickness to short and long term memory loss and has been linked to many other health problems, such as changes in temperament, depression and anxiety, and drug and alcohol use.
Complications from traumatic brain injuries range from minor cognitive delays to debilitating and life threatening symptoms such as seizures and coma. Issues can follow the victim for several years after the injury.
National strategy:
MacGregor’s Private Member’s Bill C-277, the National Strategy on Brain Injuries Act, would implement a national strategy on TBI by:
- promoting the implementation of preventive measures to reduce risk
- identifying the training, education and guidance needs of health care professionals
- promoting research and improve data collection
- creating national guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of brain injuries
- encouraging the use of consulting psychologists to create a national support system
- developing and maintain a government website to provide current facts, research, and best practices
Consultation:
Through consultation with mental health experts and constituents, MacGregor found a need for federal action to address TBIs caused by intimate partner violence and nonfatal drug overdoses – known as, Toxic Brain Injury.
“On behalf of my family and our entire board at the CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses, I want to thank Alistair MacGregor for his compassion, and ongoing commitment to ensuring those living with an acquired brain injury, and their families, receive the care they need”, said Janelle Breese Biagioni, Founder & CEO of Constable Gerald Breese Centre for Traumatic Life Losses.
“This is going to make a difference in the lives of so many.”
The CG Centre for Traumatic Life Losses office is located in Langford, within MacGregor’s riding on south Vancouver Island.
Timely need:
“Given new research on the number of brain injuries arising from intimate partner violence and overdose survivors, it is apparent that a federal framework is needed to address the growing issue of TBIs, both in terms of services and research, and in prevention and public awareness”, stated MacGregor.
“Canadians living with TBI symptoms deserve equal access to the best available care and treatment, and Bill C-277 aims to do just that.”
House of Commons:
Timing of when C-277 might be passed is possibly impacted by the House of Commons sitting calendar.
MPs will be in session until June 23, then breaking for the summer, returning September 19, 2022.
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Video – MP MacGregor Introduces Bill C-277 in House of Commons
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