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Q&A: What Would Justice Look Like for Scott’s Family?

Day 3 · 2:18:54 · Dean Allison · Carole Avoine · Blaine Calkins

  • ⚖️ Justice means returning to non-negotiable principles: do no harm, informed consent, autonomy and non-judgment.
  • 🗣️ Neither Scott nor Crystal received true informed consent; safety signals were silenced and dissenting doctors cut off.
  • 🧑‍⚕️ A doctor’s job is full information, patient choice and support—never threats, coercion or abandonment.

MP Motz asks what justice requires of medicine and policy.

← Cardiogenic Shock, Comfort Care and a Sister’s Last Counsel | Q&A: Blaine Calkins on Scott’s Loyalty and Irrefutable Cause →

Transcript

Dean Allison · 2:18:54

Scott was a big man. He made me look pretty small. Thank you for your, your testimony today. I couldn't help but be aggravated Um, with Scott's experience and your experience and his family's experience, from your perspective as a medical doctor, a palliative care doctor, and hearing the testimony of you and others, what would justice look like for you, Scott's family for your family with respect to the medical system, with respect to even government policy?

Carole Avoine · 2:19:51

It's a great question, and thank you for your comments. Justice looks very— I mean, these are These aren't new things that we need to figure out. What we need to do is figure out a way that we do not stray from the very principles of human decency to maintain human dignity. The principles are very simple. No matter what is going on in the world, I was trained as a doctor. There was never a time I was trained to say if a, if a pandemic or an epidemic breaks out, you breach all of your fundamental principles and you follow these orders. Never. And nor would I. Do no harm. Not some harm, and not some harm to some people to benefit others.

Carole Avoine · 2:20:56

No harm. Informed consent. I couldn't provide informed consent. My brother didn't get informed consent. How could he? We didn't have enough information. And when information was coming up about safety and concerns, not allowed to talk about it. Doctors like me are cut off. Mm, autonomy. We respect every single human being's autonomy that is capable and competent to make a decision. Nobody needed to make that decision for Scott. Nobody needed to force anybody to take this if it was so good. Trust me, humans will flock to it. We know what's good for us, right?

Carole Avoine · 2:21:57

And non-judgment. As a doctor, I can sum up my job for you very, very easily. I provide the most current and up-to-date information for Whatever issue we're facing, I give you all of the information, you make your decision, and I support your decision. I do not judge you. I do not tell you you made the wrong choice. I do not tell you that I am going to get rid of you as a patient. No threats, no coercion, no force. Humans don't need that, and we've lost touch with the very fundamental basics.

Blaine Calkins · 2:22:48

And I'm so sorry to interrupt you. I just know that the MPs want to interact with you, and we're so short on time. I want them to actually— so if you can— thank you.

Dean Allison · 2:22:59

I've got Mr. Culkins and then Mr. Dawson.

Blaine Calkins · 2:23:04

I think I'm ready now.

Speaker G · 2:23:05

Thank you.