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Doctors' college called undemocratic
The Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons has acted undemocratically
by coming out in favor of user fees without asking the views of
the doctors who are its members, says a group of doctors pushing
for medical reform.
Philip Berger, a member of the steering committee of the Medical
Reform Group of Ontario, representing 90 physicians, said the college's
advocacy of user fees is "the first time we have had solid
evidence that the college is pro-doctor and not interested in serving
the interests of the patients."
The college licences doctors to practice in Ontario and is the
disciplinary body before which patients may take complaints. Membership
is compulsory for all physicians in the province.
In a brief to the Health Council Conference being held in Toronto
this week, the college said some
form of "direct-user participation in payment" for at
least some services is necessary to avoid substantial increases
in public financing for health Care.
"Future health policy should shift more responsibility for
personal health and the selection of health services, together with
some component of the direct cost to the individual," the college's
brief said.
A resolution passed by a meeting of the Medical Reform Group called
on the college to "immediately retract" its position in
support of user fees. The resolution said that the college ought
to have canvassed its members for their opinions before speaking
out on an issue of such importance.
"A substantial body of expert opinion based on scientific
evidence holds that user fees are in direct conflict with the public
interest," the Reform Group said.
Globe & Mail, April 26, 1983
Subject Headings: Abortion
Rights – Community
Health – Community
Health Centres – Drug
Substitution – Epidemiology
– Epidemiology/Community
Medicine – Health
Administration – Health
Care Budgets – Health
Care Cost Containment – Health
Care Costs – Health
Care Delivery – Health
Care Finance & Fund-Raising – Health
Care in Canada – Health
Care in Ontario – Health
Care in the U.K. – Health
Care in the U.S. – Health
Care Myths – Health
Care Reform – Health
Care Resources – Health
Care Services – Health
Care Workers – Health
Clinics – Health
Determinants – Health
Economics – Health
Expenditures – Health
Issues – Health
Policy – Health
Policy/Seniors – Health
Service Organizations – Health/Social
Justice Issues – Health
Statistics – Health/Strategic
Planning – History
– Hospitals
– Labour
Medicine – Medical
Associations – Medical
Costs/Foreign – Medical
Education – Medical
Ethics – Medical
Human Resources – Medical
Personnel – Medical
Research Funding – Medicare
– Medication
Use – Medication
Use/Seniors – NAFTA/Health
– Occupational
Health & Safety – Patients'
Rights – Pharmaceuticals
– Physician
Compensation – Physician
Human Resources – Pro-Choice
Issues – Public
Health – Publications/Health
– Social
Policy – Women's
Health
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