Attorney General Sharma Proposes BC Law to Hold ‘Wrongdoers’ Accountable for Health Costs Related to Harmful Products

The British Columbia government has introduced proposed legislation to recover health-related costs from alleged “wrongdoers,” including social-media giants.

Attorney General Niki Sharma introduced the legislation on Mar. 14, stating that if approved, it would enable the province to utilize the courts for reclaiming health-related costs linked to the promotion and distribution of harmful products.

According to a government statement, the law would establish a mechanism for holding social media companies accountable for the negative effects of their algorithms on individuals, particularly children.

Ms. Sharma explained that the bill is based on previous laws that empower the province to seek compensation for health-related damages caused by tobacco and opioids.

She added that the legislation would make companies responsible for causing harm and would enable the province to seek reimbursement for hospital visits, medical appointments, and even take preventative actions against the risk of disease, illness, or injury.

A report released by the government in 2022 highlighted tobacco-related illnesses as the primary cause of preventable deaths in B.C., with 6,000 fatalities per year and an annual healthcare cost of $2.3 billion.

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Ms. Sharma emphasized in a statement that many individuals in B.C. are enduring adverse health consequences from products they should be able to rely on.

“Once this new legislation is enacted, we will be able to pursue more wrongdoers, similar to our successful actions against tobacco and opioid companies, in order to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals in B.C.,” she concluded.