Bill 101 explained in plain English

Bill 101 amends the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 to require Ontario's Minister of Health to provide evidence-based information about Down syndrome to regulated health professionals and the public, and to require health professionals to share this information with expectant parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Harvey and Gurvir's Law (Bill 101) is an Ontario law that makes changes to how information about Down syndrome is shared with families and the public in the province. The law requires the provincial government's Minister of Health to create and make available up-to-date, evidence-based written information about Down syndrome. This information must include: - Details about life expectancy, cognitive and physical development, education outcomes, and psychosocial (mental and social) outcomes for people with Down syndrome - Resources available to families who have a family member with Down syndrome - Information about supports and programs from community organizations across Ontario that are approved by the Ministry Before releasing this information, the Minister must consult with regulated health professionals who have expertise in Down syndrome and with organizations that represent or advocate for people with Down syndrome. The information must be made available in English and French, and in any other languages the Minister deems appropriate. The law also requires regulated health professionals (such as doctors, midwives, and genetic counsellors) to provide the written Down syndrome information to expectant parents when they communicate a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Most of the law came into force when it received Royal Assent, but the requirement for health professionals to provide the information (Section 2) comes into force six months after Royal Assent.