Who Regulates Your Doctor?: A Dialogue with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

 

APCARP_2015_10_08
Left to right:  Andréa Foti  (CPSO), Michell
e Tremblay (CPSO), Renate Crizzle (CARP Scarborough),  Brian Lampole (CARP Ajax-Pickering),
Dr Carol Leet (President of the CPSO and keynote speaker) and Randy Filinski.

“Continuing the ‘End of Life’ Dialogue” –
A Perspective from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

Speaker: Dr. Carol Leet President, CPSO

What does it mean to die with dignity? End-of-life care must strive to address the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients.  As the province’s medical regulator, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), sets guidelines and standards for all Ontario doctors – including those who provide palliative and end-of-life care.

On Tuesday, September 22, 2015, Dr Carol Leet led us through a discussion on the role of the CPSO and specifically, their role in regulating doctors’ role in end of life discussions. As we discuss end of life, and what you might consider when thinking about having this conversation with your doctor.

As a CARP member, you have the ability to voice your thoughts to the federal government by linking to the website of the External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada:  http://www.ep-ce.ca/home/.   It’s important to note that the Online Issue Book is only open until October 11thThe website also includes a wealth of information and a FAQ page to help individuals formulate their responses.

Doctors in Ontario have been granted a degree of authority for self-regulation under provincial law. The CSPO is the body that regulates the practice of medicine to protect and serve the public interest.  This system of self-regulation is based on the premise that the College must act first and foremost in the interest of the public. All doctors in Ontario must be members of the College in order to practise medicine. The duties of the College include:

* issuing certificates of registration to doctors to allow them to practise medicine

* monitoring and maintaining standards of practice through peer assessment and remediation

* investigating complaints about doctors on behalf of the public, and

* conducting discipline hearings when necessary

For more information on the CPSO, go to http://www.cpso.on.ca/ or for the full presentation, CLICK HERE:

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