Frequently Asked Questions for the Workshop with Patients/Clients, April 7-9, 2006, Toronto

1. Why was this workshop held?
2. Who was invited to the workshop?
3. What issues were discussed?
4. How will Health Canada use the comments and information generated by the workshop and what are the next steps?
5. Do the opinions expressed in the workshop report reflect the views of Health Canada?
6. Will there be other workshops or consultations on these topics?

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Q1: Why was this workshop held?

A1: Health Canada is holding a number of workshops to gather information to support the development of regulations for the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. This workshop focussed on:

• aggregate outcomes of assisted human reproduction (AHR) procedures (section 19(i);
• health reporting information (sections 14-18);
• counselling (section 14(2)(b); and
• information to be made available to the public by the new agency Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (section 19).

Q2: Who was invited to the workshop?

A2: Individuals and couples who had used or were considering the use of AHR to help them build their families were invited to the workshop. This included individuals and couples from across Canada, who had undergone or were considering a range of AHR procedures such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, using their own gametes or third-party donated gametes.

Q3: What issues were discussed?

A3: Participants discussed various issues related to the four workshop topics, including: patient/consumer information needs related to aggregate outcomes of AHR procedures, what health reporting information should be collected by licensees (AHR centres) for health and safety reasons, what health reporting information should be transfered to the Agency, the provision of AHR counselling services, the availability of information from the Agency and the manner in which information from the Agency is made available to the public.

Q4: How will Health Canada use the comments and information generated by the workshop and what are the next steps?

A4: Health Canada will use the information gathered from the workshop to assist in the development of policy options for regulatory proposals regarding aggregate outcomes of AHR procedures, health reporting information, counselling and information to be made available to the public by Assisted Human Reproduction Canada. Health Canada will be holding additional consultations towards the development of these proposals.

Q5: Do the opinions expressed in the workshop report reflect the views of Health Canada?

A5: The report is an "as-was-said" account of the workshop and as such the comments and opinions expressed in the report are those of the workshop participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Health Canada.

Q6: Will there be other workshops or consultations on these topics?

A6: Health Canada will be undertaking additional public involvement activities as part of the development of regulatory proposals for each of the workshop topics. Information concerning these activities will be posted on Health Canada's website at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/reproduction.