POLICY MATTERS
physician conduct during a job action notably
that, even during a
job action, physicians
will continue to provide medical care that
is urgent or otherwise
necessary to prevent
harm, suffering and/
or deterioration. This
will include ensuring
health-care concerns are
assessed and appropriately triaged so that urgent and/or necessary medical
care can be obtained.
Physicians are aware that it would never be acceptable
to completely abandon patients and communities en
masse, as it would leave patients and the public without
access to urgent and/or necessary medical care. The
College believed it was important to acknowledge this
in the policy.
4. Does the policy prevent physicians from advocating for changes that benefit both physicians and
patients in the province?
No. Advocating for patients is one of the principles
of medical professionalism. Physicians have a crucial
role to play in shaping and improving the health‐care
system.
There are many ways for physicians to advocate for
change without withdrawing their services. The policy
expects physicians will explore these other options when
contemplating a withdrawal of services.
However, if a physician believes that withdrawing
services is the only way to achieve necessary changes,
the policy does not prevent physicians from withdrawing their services, provided that the adverse impact on
patients and/or the public is mitigated.
22
DIALOGUE • Issue 1, 2014
5. The policy refers to physicians’ “collective responsibility” to the public. Does this mean physicians have a
duty to care for all Ontarians?
No. Collective responsibility and duty of care are
distinct concepts. Collective responsibility refers to the
ethical and professional obligations physicians have, as
a group, to the public, as articulated in the College’s
Practice Guide.
This is distinct from the legal duty of care a physician
has to a patient. The policy refers to collective responsibility: the commitment that all physicians have to
provide quality care to their patients, and to uphold the
reputation of the medical profession.
6. The policy contains a number of terms like ‘best
interests’ of patients, ‘abandoned’ ‘deprived of access’
,
to medical care, ‘risk of harm’ and ‘mitigate the adverse
,
impact’ How will the College interpret these terms?
.
The College did not set out concrete definitions of these
terms because their meaning will differ, depending on
the circumstances and context in which the withdrawal
of physician services occurs or is contemplated. In applying these terms to specific situations, the College will
be guided by the values and principles of professionalism; the spirit of the policy (to ensure individuals are
not harmed by physician job actions); and the College’s
and its members’ shared commitment to serve and
protect the public.
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