Evidence of meeting #118 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was diseases.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Brudno  Professor and Scientific Director, Centre for Computational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, As an Individual
Ian Stedman  Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual
Alex MacKenzie  Clinician Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
Joel Lexchin  Professor Emeritus, School of Health Policy and Management, York University, As an Individual
Stacey Silverberg  Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Government Affairs and Market Access, Janssen Inc. Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Raj Grewal  Brampton East, Lib.
Jacqueline Dobson  Government Affairs and Policy Manager, Government Affairs and Market Access, Janssen Inc. Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Is there any central data for that registry?

9:25 a.m.

Clinician Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Dr. Alex MacKenzie

It's a big question, and Mike spends a lot of time looking at this.

With regard to the genetic sequence for sure...and on the actual description of the disease, there's something called the HPO, the human phenotype language that Mike uses.

Do you have anything to add?

9:25 a.m.

Professor and Scientific Director, Centre for Computational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, As an Individual

Dr. Michael Brudno

I would just mention that a lot of these registries are driven by either researchers or clinicians who have information.

There needs to be much more of a push to get more information directly from patients. Information coming straight from patients is obviously going to be in some cases less reliable, but there are going to be aspects of a disease that a clinician never sees, things that happen only at night, or things that affect the patient significantly but don't make it into what they discuss with their clinicians.

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

Yes. For example, I have seven different symptoms associated with my disease, but I never put them together. Growing up, I would talk about one or the other when I went to see my doctor, or about whatever was bothering me that day or that week.

If I could record what was happening to me on an ongoing basis and that would be somewhere, like in a registry, with other people just like me, who knows...?

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

It can be helpful for the other patients too.

Thank you.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

The time is up, and I'm sorry it is because I feel that we've just scratched the surface of the knowledge that you can impart to us on this issue.

9:25 a.m.

Clinician Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Dr. Alex MacKenzie

We are very eager to.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Dr. MacKenzie, you wanted to make a comment on Mr. Kmiec's question and I missed it. You signalled that you wanted to make a comment. I don't remember the question, but if you remember the question, you're certainly welcome to comment.

9:25 a.m.

Clinician Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Dr. Alex MacKenzie

I think I was just twitching, perhaps. I don't know.

9:25 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

9:25 a.m.

Clinician Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Dr. Alex MacKenzie

I do want to say that the calibre of questions was very impressive. There was real thought brought to bear.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

The quality of our committee makes my job very easy, it really does, as does the quality of our witnesses. Our members do their homework. It's the most productive committee, I think, and we have the best witnesses.

October 25th, 2018 / 9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Hear, hear!

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I want to ask Mr. Stedman a couple of questions.

Your daughter was diagnosed at birth.

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

It took almost two years.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

She probably had this at birth, though.

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

You did, too, probably.

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

I've had it my whole life.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Did your parents?

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

My mother was also diagnosed. I just keep her out of it.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Your mother was diagnosed after you were diagnosed.

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

Yes, in her sixties.

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Where does this come from?

9:25 a.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual

Ian Stedman

It's genetic. We don't know. We can't trace it back. Her mother was already on her deathbed. We don't know where it came from after that. We've since found it in two of her siblings and some of her nieces and nephews.