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News Release
Family Physicians Group Encourages
Unethical Behaviour in its Members
January 16, 1995
The President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians is encouraging
family doctors to take its battle with the provincial government
into their offices. The College of Family Physicians opposes the
Ontario government's plans to increase the role of nurse practitioners
in health care delivery in Ontario. Dr. Marilyn Spruyt, the College
President, has suggested that her members should lobby patients
who come to them for health care and encourage these patients to
support the College's opposition to the government's plans regarding
nurse practitioners.
In a recent letter to the entire College membership, Dr. Spruyt
states that "what is required is a concerted effort aimed at
educating health care consumers, our patients, so they can voice
their concerns" about Nurse Practitioners. "We appreciate
that this is not an easy issue to discuss in the context of an office
visit", she continues. "At the same time, based on feedback
from our members, we believe that the patient/physician relationship
is the key to 'mobilizing' the public on this issue."
Patients consult physicians when they are ill, and often frightened.
Patients are dependent on their doctors, and vulnerable. They need
to believe in their doctors' wisdom and integrity. For physicians
to use the patient/physician interaction as a forum for political
lobbying is a breach of trust. Dr. Spruyt is right that family physicians
have considerable credibility with their patients. If they use this
credibility to serve their own political interests with patients
seeking health care, they will discredit the profession, and deepen
patients' mistrust of physicians.
The Medical Reform Group condemns Dr. Spruyt's attempt to use patients
in the College's political battle with the government. The Medical
Reform Group believes that nurse practitioners, working in collaborative
teams with physicians, can contribute to health care in Ontario.
Whether or not they agree with our position or that of the College,
the Medical Reform Group calls on family physicians to resist the
temptation to intrude political issues into the doctor-patient relationship.
Contact:
Gordon Guyatt, M.D. (905) 525-9140 x22160
Rosana Pellizzari, M.D. (416) 658-6812
Mimi Divinsky, M.D. (416) 964-2993
Medical Reform Group of Ontario
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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