On a previous update, I stated that adverse drug reactions needed to be reported on a voluntary basis in Canada. At the time, I was unaware of Vanessa’s Law. 

Enacted in 2014 following the death of 15-year-old Vanessa Young due to a cardiac arrhythmia from a prescribed medication, the law aims to protect Canadians by enabling faster action against unsafe products.

Under Vanessa’s Law hospitals are required to report ADR’s within 30 days.
Psychiatrists working in hospitals are part of the team required to report serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medical device incidents (MDIs) under 
Vanessa’s Law (the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act), which came into effect on December 16, 2019.

Yes, a serious adverse drug reaction (ADR) leading to death must be reported under 
Vanessa's Law if the drug was prescribed by a hospital physician, even if the patient was not an in-patient at the time of death. The key requirement is that the ADR is documented within the hospital system.  

Key Considerations for Reporting:
Documentation is Key: If the death or severe reaction is documented by hospital staff, the institution is responsible for reporting it to Health Canada, regardless of whether the patient was in the hospital when they died.
What to Report: Any serious ADR—defined as a noxious and unintended response to a drug that causes death—must be reported within 30 days.
No Causality Needed: Staff do not need to prove the drug caused the death; they only need to report their suspicion of a serious reaction.
Scope: This applies to any prescription drug provided by a hospital psychiatrist or physician.  
If the hospital has documented evidence of the death and suspects it was linked to a medication they prescribed, the legal obligation to report remains.

Failing to report may result in fines for the hospital. To follow up on an Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) submitted regarding an event affecting you or a loved one, contact Vigilance Health Canada for confirmation.