Very well.
Evidence of meeting #25 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was back.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #25 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was back.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
We discussed the matter extensively.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
You concluded that, in a theatre of operations, it was preferable that our paramedics and ambulances did not bear the sign of the Red Cross.
4 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
Outside of the camp. In the centre, the sign is used.
4 p.m.
Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group and Director General of Health Services, Department of National Defence
That's for this mission. Each mission is considered independently, so the decision was taken for this one at this time.
The chain of command assesses the risks for the mission at that time, at that place, and whether or not the Red Cross symbol should be flown or worn. Should the risks change, the chain of command might change its mind. That's where we're at right now.
4 p.m.
Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group and Director General of Health Services, Department of National Defence
In my recollection, yes, but—
4 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
No. We had a period of reversing decisions in the mid-1990s. Certainly through all of my training it has always been a valid decision to be taken by the Canadian command that in certain circumstances the risk-benefit analysis may lead you to not display the Geneva symbols. You have to understand that by doing so you forfeit your protection under the Geneva Convention. It's not a war crime, but the medical personnel forfeit their ability to be treated differently if they are captured during operations.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Fine.
I do not know whether you noticed, but some people are wearing a red ribbon today as it is the Canadian Aid Awareness Week.
On the matter of soldiers practising safe sex while in theatres of operations, I think I recall reading in a number of articles that the Canadian Forces supplied condoms.
Do you believe condoms to be important in a theatre of operations? I know it is an awkward question.
4 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
Yes.
I think safe sexual practices are always important. People who understand human behaviour and who deal in realities when it comes to prevention of sexually transmitted diseases should in fact be happy that condoms are readily available to members of the Canadian Forces. I'd also point out that some of them are used, in fact, to keep dust out of weapons. There are other uses for them.
4 p.m.
Bloc
4 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
When somebody who has been injured has to be transferred from Kandahar to a hospital in Germany, who makes the decision? Are there a lot of transfers? Do you only transfer those who have been very seriously injured?
4 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
The injured who are sent from Kandahar to Landstuhl—an American hospital in Germany—are people who need to be sent back to Canada. They have serious injuries and need to be sent home. Doctors in Kandahar make the decision. They send those requiring specialists' treatment that is not available in the theatre of operations. They might need to see a urologist, for example, or another specialist that we do not have in Kandahar.
Some other injured personnel are sent to Landstuhl and then return to the theatre of operations. However, for the majority of them, it is a stage in their journey back to Canada.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
4:05 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you both for your presentation. It's certainly an extremely important part of the support services provided to our troops.
How many injured soldiers have there been so far? Pick a date and then give me a number, if you would.
4:05 p.m.
Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group and Director General of Health Services, Department of National Defence
I was told that as of today, there have been 171.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
And of them, how many ultimately would return back to active duty?
4:05 p.m.
Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group and Director General of Health Services, Department of National Defence
That's a difficult question. I'll let the surgeon general answer from a clinical perspective, but we need time to assess that. I'm not being evasive, but until someone is given absolutely every opportunity to recover and rehabilitate to the maximum extent possible, we don't make that decision.
Surgeon General—
4:05 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
I would just echo that. In order to give you an accurate answer I'd have to go back and comb through those 170 and see what kinds of injuries there were there. Commodore Kavanagh is quite right; we're not in a hurry to make that final decision.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
There must be some number, somewhere, because I've heard different reports.
Let me leave it with you this way. If you can find a number, if you could forward it, it would be much appreciated. I'll leave it at that.
4:05 p.m.
Canadian Forces Surgeon General, Department of National Defence
I can do some crystal ball gazing for you and say that my best guess is that x percent of that 170 represent people who are likely to have a significant permanent disability and y percent—
4:05 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I was thinking of traumatic amputations. It's not very likely they're going to be returning to active duty if they've just lost a leg.
