McGill Journal of Law and Health Podcast

In this episode, editors Sonia Hajo, Hailey Laxer and Faye Nikolettos invite guests Lisa Teryl, Senior Legal Counsel at Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Bibhas Vaze, barrister at Bibhas Vaze Law Corporation working in Vancouver, British Columbia, to discuss some aspects of health care in the Canadian correctional system from a defendant's perspective. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Here, we discuss a very interesting question, do we own the rights to our own cells? Prof. Richard Gold helps answer some questions relating to our rights over our own excised tissues, and the legal and ethical implications of using these tissues, touching upon notions of intellectual property and patents.

In this episode of the McGill Journal of Law and Health Podcast Series, Hailey Laxer invites guests Me Miriam Clouthier, associate at IMK and Chris Macleod, lawyer at Cambridge LLP and Chair of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Society, to discuss the PMPRB – the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board – and how the recent proposed reforms to the PMPRB affect the pharmaceutical industry in Canada and access to medications, particularly, concerning innovative therapies for Canadian patients.

In this episode, Sonia and Catherine discuss the ongoing criminalization of HIV non-disclosure in Canada with Richard Elliott, who has been a prominent advocate and expert in HIV, human rights and health law and policy for over twenty years. They discussed how HIV is criminalized within Canada's legal framework, common myths and misconceptions that contribute to stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV, and how HIV criminalization creates barriers to the realization of human rights for all. 

In this episode, Hailey and Sonia interviewed Dr. Nicholas B. King about health ethics and the law. Dr. King shared insights related to the ethics of requiring COVID-19 vaccination for medical procedures, like organ transplants, the ethics of vaccine distribution and pandemic resources, as well as the evolving ethics surrounding artificial intelligence, technology and health.

The health impacts of climate change have been front and centre throughout 2021 in Canada: from wildfires to flooding. In this episode, Catherine interviews Dr. McGregor, an Anishinaabe woman from Whitefish River First Nation and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice at Osgoode Hall Law School, to discuss the impacts of climate change on Indigenous peoples' in Canada, the limits of Canadian legal frameworks, and possibilities.

On October 30, 2021, Newfoundland & Labrador discovered a ransomware attack on their healthcare system that brought down the province's cyber infrastructure for weeks. Yuan Stevens, Policy Lead on Technology, Cybersecurity & Democracy at Ryerson's Leadership Lab, discusses with Catherine the impacts of the attack on patients, government, and employees; why malicious hackers often target health infrastructure; and steps that governments can take to enhance the legal frameworks that govern cybersecurity and health information. 

In Episode 9 of COVID Conversations, Catherine Dunne spoke with Molly Reynolds, a leading privacy lawyer at Torys LLP in Toronto, Ontario. 

In this episode, Catherine and Molly discussed the emerging trend of proof of vaccination requirements and vaccine passports across Canada, and their legal parameters, particularly dissecting legal considerations relevant to the right to privacy and the application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

In Episode 7 of COVID Conversations, Sidney and Bianca sat down with Phil Lord, who is currently completing an LL.M. at McGill University as a Bombardier scholar. 

In this episode, Phil, Sidney, and Bianca discussed how COVID-19 has impacted employment, with a specific focus on the uneven consequences of the move to remote work, the connection between these impacts and existing social issues, and potential government interventions to mitigate these issues. 

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca.

In Episode 5 of COVID Conversations, Sidney and Bianca spoke with Professor Daniel Weinstock, who is a Full Professor at the McGill University Faculty of Law. This is the final episode of a three-part series with Professor Weinstock, where we discuss a range of topics related to the pandemic.

In this episode, Sidney, Bianca, and Professor Weinstock discussed the implications of the Quebec government's decision to make attendance at elementary and high schools mandatory. 

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca.

In Episode 4 of COVID Conversations, Sidney and Bianca continued the conversation with Professor Daniel Weinstock, who is a Full Professor at the McGill University Faculty of Law. This episode is the second in a three-part series with Professor Weinstock, where we discuss a range of topics related to the pandemic. 

In this episode, Sidney, Bianca, and Professor Weinstock discussed how employment and housing play an important role in managing the spread of COVID-19, how government communication is critical, and the role that physical space plays when properly utilized. 

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca.

In Episode 3 of COVID Conversations, Sidney and Bianca spoke with Professor Daniel Weinstock, who is a Full Professor at the McGill University Faculty of Law. This episode is the first in a three-part series with Professor Weinstock, where we discuss a range of topics related to the pandemic. 

In this episode, Sidney, Bianca, and Professor Weinstock discussed how we can take a harm reduction approach to address the COVID-19 pandemic, in contrast to complete abstention from everyday activities.  

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca. 

In Episode 2 of COVID Conversations, Bianca looked at the findings of the May 2020 report from Public Health Ontario, which examined neighborhood-level trends among COVID-19 cases through a health-equity perspective. She then sat down with Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health at Toronto Public Health.   

Bianca and Dr. Dubey talked about the report's findings of social determinants of health, the long-term effects of COVID-19, and the role youth play in flattening the curve, along with a number of other topics. 

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca.

In Episode 1 of COVID Conversations, Sidney spoke with licensed psychologist Eric Widdicome. Eric holds a position at a university in Montreal, where he provides mental health services to students, and is also a service provider for Kahnawake Shakotiia’takenhas Community services, where he works with individuals, couples, and families. 

Sidney and Eric discussed student mental health in the age of COVID-19, how to build and maintain connections with your peers while remote learning, and more.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the MJLH/RDSM podcast. If you have any questions about the podcast, please email info.mjlh@mcgill.ca. 

Welcome to the McGill Journal of Law and Health's new podcast series, COVID Conversations! 

Meet your hosts, and find out about our upcoming podcast episodes about the issue du jour - COVID-19! 

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to stay up-to-date as we release new episodes.