Annual Report 2015 | Page 4

president ’ s message

president ’ s message

We also sought to empower patients by ensuring their access to care .

” the circumstances where patients can communicate the impact of abuse on them by submitting impact statements to the Discipline Committee . We also have provided more information to patients on our website about our stance against sexual abuse . We explain clearly that sexual abuse by physicians is a serious breach of trust and then describe what a proper physical examination looks like – and what could be red flags for improper behaviour by a doctor . We did this because too many abused patients told us that while they had a gut feeling that a doctor ’ s comment was inappropriate or that the exam performed on them felt wrong , they were unsure whether their doctor had crossed the line and therefore hesitated to come forward . We encourage patients to talk to us about their experience , and explain why it is important for us to know about their concerns . And recognizing that it could intimidating to reach out to the College when you are not fluent in English , we made this information available in 11 different languages ( click here ).

We also sought to empower patients by ensuring their access to care . Our Professional Obligations and Human Rights policy affirms the rights of patients to access care , and to be treated safely and without discrimination . The most controversial aspect of the policy addresses the College ’ s expectations in circumstances where physicians limit the services they provide for reasons of conscience or religion . The policy requires that physicians who choose to limit the health services they provide for reasons of conscience or religion do so in a manner that respects patient dignity , ensures access to care and protects their safety , by providing an “ effective referral ”. Several months later , we would visit the issue of effective referral again as we developed our Interim Guidance for Physician-Assisted Death . This guidance was developed to ensure that Ontario physicians were aware of their obligations and the College ’ s expectations when physician-assisted death became legal . And again , we made it clear that while physicians do not have to provide services that conflict with their conscience or religious beliefs , they must make an effective referral in a timely manner to a non-objecting physician or agency . It ’ s been a year of extraordinary challenges , but I believe that throughout it all , we kept our mandate of public protection fully in focus and thereby demonstrated our commitment to our patients .
4 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF ONTARIO