Doctors talk strikes
headache
by Eric Dowd
Toronto -- Ontario doctors have as many headaches as their patients and this is prompting them to talk quietly of strikes, or job actions, as they more diplomatically call them.
It also gives Premier Dalton McGuinty one more issue to worry about in health, his most chronically irritating responsibility, and he should have no doubt many doctors are fed up.
The Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which regulates the doctors, has approved their right to withdraw their services for reasons related to patient safety or their practice environment provided they take steps it specifies to mitigate the impact on patients and the public.
The College for many years has required the doctors to take similar precautions when negotiations for increases in their fees failed.
The College says doctors who withdraw services for any reason must fulfil their professional responsibilities and uphold the reputation of their profession.
They should consider their patients’ best interests and ensure patients and, in a large scale withdrawal of services the public, will not be placed at undue risk.
They should explore all alternative options and withdraw services only as a last resort.
If they withdraw services, they should take reasonable steps to mitigate where possible the impact on patients and public.
Doctors should use their professional judgment to determine what steps are needed to ensure their patients and the public are not unduly harmed.
The College pointed out there are many ways doctors can advocate change without withdrawing services.
It said it updated its policy after extensive consultation with the public, doctors and other stakeholders.
There is no suggestion a strike by doctors is imminent, but the College’s affirmation shows they are prepared to discuss this controversial issue.
Doctors feel undermined for reasons including some powerful partners in healthcare and rivals for public funds, including the Ontario Hospital Association, have said Ontario spends more per resident on doctors than other provinces and urged the province to reduce it.
The hospitals also want to change their relationship so doctors who have privileges to work in hospitals are more answerable to them.
Doctors claim this would reduce their ability to act independently and in their patients’ interests, which they see as their first duty.
Doctors also have expressed concern the province is promoting the introduction of clinics led by nurse practitioners and, while they support collaboration between professions, this is a deliberate attempt to reduce their influence in primary care.
The Ontario Medical Association, representing doctors, made the serious charge other organizations are targeting doctors.
The OMA is countering with newspaper advertisements telling readers “your life is our life’s work" and suggesting doctors often sacrifice their own health to help patients.
It points to doctors “at risk or troubled by a range of personal and health-related problems."
It is providing a health service for doctors and their families experiencing problems including stress, burnout, emotional and family issues, substance abuse and psychiatric illness.
The OMA also has set up a series of programs to encourage doctors to take an active role in the political process and give their profession more influence with government.
It points out many doctors already serve on such bodies as hospital committees and advisory community groups and contribute to fundraising and charitable causes.
It suggests they also should be more aware of the value and importance of developing a continuing and valuable relationship with their members of the legislature.
Doctors cannot expect their voice to be heard, it says, unless they make MPPs aware they have something to say.
They also cannot expect elected officials to make informed decisions about healthcare unless they have views from those practising in the field.
The doctors’ group also is ready to offer advice or how to get involved in an election campaign and lobby an MPP, which suggests the voice of doctors is about to get louder, even without strikes.
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