Pets should be kept out of cabins on all Canadian passenger planes, says the association representing the country's doctors.
A resolution reading, "The Canadian Medical Association recommends a ban on all pets, except for certified service animals, travelling inside the aircraft cabin on all Canadian passenger planes," was adopted at the group's annual meeting in St. John's on Tuesday. Keeping pets in the plane cabin poses a risk to travellers with serious allergies, doctors say. Patricia Beck/Detroit Free Press/Associated Press
Doctors supporting the resolution against keeping pets in the cabin said they pose a significant risk to travellers with serious allergies.
However, others at the meeting said it should be up to airlines to decide.
The Calgary-based discount carrier WestJet said Wednesday it plans to continue allowing passengers to bring pets in cabins.
The airline said its planes have good air filters for allergens.
Passengers with allergies may take a different flight with no cats or dogs on board, the airline said, noting it has had only a handful of allergy-related incidents in the past 18 months.
Air Canada banned pets in the cabin between 2006 and 2009 and then changed the policy.
Another resolution adopted at the meeting called for each province and territory to implement a Patient Charter.
The charter would include the rights and expectations of patients with respect to quality and timeliness of care; responsibilities of patients for their health and health care; a mechanism for patients to register concerns and complaints; and a mechanism for redress of patient complaints.
Asbestos objection
"I also would like to highlight that general council passed a motion strongly opposing the government's decision to contest the international designation of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous chemical," outgoing CMA President Dr. Jeff Turnbull said in a statement Wednesday.
"This is an important health-care issue involving a product that causes significant illness and even death."
P.O.V.:
Should pets be banned from planes?
Other resolutions adopted at the meeting from an unconfirmed list posted on the conference website included:
Examine the effect of increasing population longevity on the sustainability of health human resources such as doctors and nurses.
Examine practice location patterns of recent medical school graduates to assess the implications for the urban-rural distribution of physicians.
Support for the establishment and reinforcement of healthy food policies, such as access to nutritious food choices in hospitals, other health care settings and at health-related conferences.
Support for compulsory use of helmets by people of all ages when riding all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
Support for the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists' newly revised physical activity guidelines for children and adults.
Recommend all over-the-counter preparations containing acetaminophen have a prominent warning on the front to warn consumers of the risk of acetaminophen overdose.
