Vanessa's Law, or the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act, is a critical piece of legislation that aims to enhance patient safety and improve Health Canada's oversight of therapeutic products. It was enacted in 2014 in response to the tragic death of 15-year-old Vanessa Young, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia after taking the prescribed medication cisapride (Prepulsid®). The law seeks to bolster post-market safety information collection, take appropriate action when serious health risks are identified, and promote transparency in the oversight of therapeutic products.

For premed students preparing to become future physicians, understanding Vanessa's Law and its mandatory reporting requirements is essential. The law empowers Health Canada to require information, tests, or studies, enforce label changes or package modifications, recall unsafe therapeutic products, disclose information in certain circumstances, and impose stringent measures for noncompliance.

Effective December 16th, 2019, health care institutions are required to report serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medical device incidents (MDIs) under the law. This mandatory reporting helps to identify emerging safety issues, assess the harm versus benefit of drugs and medical devices, and improve patient outcomes and public health by sharing learnings through warnings, advisories, and risk mitigation measures.

Premed students can benefit from understanding the importance of Vanessa's Law in promoting patient safety, strengthening the healthcare system's knowledge base, and driving continuous improvement in the medical field. By familiarizing themselves with this legislation, future physicians will be better equipped to comply with mandatory reporting requirements and contribute to a safer healthcare environment.

"Great book on ethical behaviour and compassionate medicine" - Ben

The Canadian Guide to Med School is an incredible resource. Written by 70+ medical students studying at all 17 Canadian medical schools, it provides advice and resources for every stage of interview preparation. There are several full-length MMI circuits, loads of MMI questions with follow-ups, and other helpful documents.

The Canadian Guide to Med School, created by over 70 volunteer medical students from all 17 Canadian medical schools, is an invaluable resource for premed students preparing for their future careers as physicians. It offers comprehensive advice and resources for every stage of interview preparation, including full-length MMI circuits, numerous MMI questions with follow-ups, and other helpful documents.

Interviews are a critical aspect of the medical school application process, providing an opportunity for applicants to showcase their personalities and interpersonal skills. The guide covers different types of interviews, such as traditional/panel interviews, MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews), modified personal interviews (MPIs), and group interviews, offering insights into the structure and objectives of each format.

For MMI preparation, the guide provides tips, practice questions, and resources that help students develop their soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. MMIs consist of a series of stations where applicants are prompted to answer questions, collaborate on tasks, or role-play with actors. By understanding the expectations and objectives of these stations, students can approach the MMI with confidence and demonstrate their competencies to interviewers.

Group interviews are also addressed, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, communication, and collaboration in a medical setting. Premed students can benefit from understanding how to effectively participate in group interviews, showcasing their ability to work well with others and contribute to problem-solving in a team setting.

Overall, the Canadian Guide to Med School is an essential resource for premed students, helping them navigate the interview process, develop crucial skills, and ultimately prepare for their future roles as compassionate and competent physicians.