Other health regulatory colleges in Ontario are on the same page.
We have formed a group – the Advisory Group for Regulatory
Excellence – made up of regulators of nurses, physiotherapists,
pharmacists, dental surgeons, and optometrists and we are advancing this project as a multi-college, multi-phased initiative.
We are taking a principled deliberate approach, recognizing the
tension between transparency and the protection of sensitive information. In moving forward and deciding what should or should
not be disclosed, we need to be careful. The unintended consequences and potential risks of making more information available
need to be explored.
We must also carefully consider the impact of disclosure on the
professional reputations of individual physicians. This is a significant issue and any analysis considering the posting of information
must involve a thorough evaluation of the risks posed to the member inherent in the posting of categories of information.
Ultimately, the question comes down to whether making available
a category of information will advance the public interest. And,
I don’t believe that all regulatory information will do that. The
information that a regulator makes available, particularly relating
to individual health-care professionals, should only be disclosed
because it helps the public make decisions and promotes public
trust in the regulator. In other words, we need to distinguish what
the public is interested in versus what’s in the public interest.
This is a complex, evolving conversation that must involve all
of you. We have already held several consultations on different
aspects of this initiative, and we intend to hold many more. Over
the coming year, we will consult with you and we ask that you
provide us with your considered opinion.
Thank you.
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COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF ONTARIO