Michael Izzotti
On March 21, Mike Izzotti, a former vice president Pharmacists For Life International and a founder of its Canadian branch, passed away at Hamilton General Hospital at the age of 55. He had multiple sclerosis, but a cause of death has not been released.
Izzotti founded Pharmacists For Life International (Canada) in 1992, and served as coordinator for central Canada before becoming the organization’s president until 2011. He told The Interim in 1995 that “we believe there should be full care for all human beings, from conception to natural death,” and that “medicines should be used for alleviating diseases and for providing comfort and care.”
Mary Ellen Douglas, the national organizer of Campaign Life Coalition, told LifeSiteNews.com that, “the death of a leader of his expertise and talent is a great loss to the pro-life movement, and we pray for him and his family.”
Pharmacists for Life’s function was mostly educational, and played a leading role in fighting for conscience rights for health care workers and against the importation of the RU-486 abortion drug. Izzotti also said the organization provided a network of support for like-minded pharmacists.
Douglas recalled how when the Ontario College of Pharmacists called for legislative changes in 2002 so that pharmacists could dispense early abortifacients, commonly called “emergency contraception” or “the morning after pill,” without a doctor’s prescription, Izzotti led the fight for freedom of conscience protection for pharmacists who refused to dispense the dangerous drugs.
Izzotti was also a long-time active member of Hamilton Right to Life.
He is survived by three brothers and a sister.
