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Denial of OHIP reimbursement for out-of-country liver transplant upheld; no section 7 Charter violation found.
The appellant, suffering from liver cancer, was deemed ineligible for a liver transplant in Ontario.
He obtained a life-saving living-related liver transplant in England at a cost of $450,000 and sought reimbursement from OHIP.
The Health Services Appeal and Review Board denied the claim, finding the treatment was not an 'insured service' under s. 28.4(2) of Regulation 552 because it was not generally accepted in Ontario as appropriate for a person in his medical circumstances.
The Divisional Court upheld the decision.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the Board's decision was reasonable and that the regulation did not violate section 7 of the Charter, as it did not deprive the appellant of life or security of the person but merely limited a financial benefit.
Appeal dismissed; OHIP's refusal to fund out-of-country liver transplant did not violate section 7 of the Charter.
The appellant, suffering from liver cancer, was denied a liver transplant in Ontario as he did not meet the medical criteria.
He obtained a living-related liver transplant in England for $450,000 and sought reimbursement from OHIP.
OHIP denied the claim because the treatment was not 'generally accepted in Ontario as appropriate for a person in the same medical circumstances' under s. 28.4(2) of Regulation 552.
The Health Services Appeal and Review Board upheld the denial.
On appeal, the Divisional Court dismissed the appeal, finding the Board's decision reasonable and concluding that the Regulation did not violate s. 7 of the Charter because the state's refusal to fund out-of-country treatment did not constitute a deprivation of life or security of the person.