from the registrar’s desk
person’s capacity to understand and assimilate the information being provided. But as Dr. Overgaard notes
“The more open and honest you are, the better.”
It was exactly this thinking that fuelled our Transparency Initiative three years ago. It is simply no longer
enough to ask members of the public to have faith that
we are carrying out our mandate, we need to demonstrate that we are carrying out our mandate.
At its last meeting, Council confirmed the public’s
right to know by approving a series of by-laws that
will put additional information on our public register. Council did not make these decisions lightly, and
intense consultation with the profession, the public
and other stakeholders was integral to this process. We
were also guided in our decision-making by a number of grounding principles, including the belief that
the greater the potential risk to the public, the more
important transparency becomes.
For that reason, Council decided to put, among
other things, cautions-in-person and SCERP (Speci-
From our
Twitter Feed
fied Continuing Education or Remediation Program)
orders on our public register. (For more information
about all the new additions to the public register, see
page 27).
During the consultations, we heard from a number
of physicians who expressed unhappiness with our
direction towards greater transparency.
We heard your concerns, and recognize that this is a departure from past practices. Medical regulation, however,
will ultimately be stronger if we are open with the public
about our processes. I’ve written before in these pages
about the concern generated by the 1991 decision to having disciplinary hearings in an open forum – after 100
years of holding them behind closed doors. Some people
were critical that such a move might sully the reputation
of the medical profession. Looking back now, it seems inconceivable that such a process was ever held away from
the public’s eyes. I believe that we will all look back on
these recent decisions, in the not too distant future, and
marvel that this information was not always public.
Aurelia Cotta @AureilaCotta May 28
Very impressed to see live tweeting @cpso_ca ‘s meeting today. How many
medical regulators do that? Only them, I believe. #onpoli #hcsmca
The Royal College @Royal_College May 28
Proud to have our director Dr. Craig Campbell. #FRCPC, receive the @cpso_ca
Council Award honouring outstanding physicians today in Toronto
Richard van Wylick @rvanwylick May 21
Had nice pre-convocation chat w/@cpso_ca President, Pediatrician and
#QMed alumnus Dr. Carol Leet. Was great that she was able to attend!
@cpso_ca
Dr Sadat Muzammil @sammedicalltd May 18
@cpso_ca your team is very helpful...
Dennis Kendel @DennisKendel May 14
Commend @cpso_ca for open consultation with profession & public in policy
development @FMRAC_ca @OntarioDoctors
Leslee Thompson @Leslee_Thompson Apr 21
Just found article in College Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario Website where
I’m quoted on patient engagement: Love it cpso.on.ca/CMSPages/Porta...
Gerald Ashe @GeraldAshe Mar 24
@cpso_ca Never felt prouder of the College. It seems to me you follow the
rules or practise somewhere where your rigid beliefs are accepted.
8
Dialogue Issue 2, 2015