INTRODUCING posted. If the matter is dismissed by the ICRC or did not pose a significant risk to the public and the physician was willing to take corrective action – a communications course, for example – then the matter could remain confidential. We also decided at the outset that there was reason to keep some categories of information confidential, such as a physician’ s health and incapacity concerns. So I do think that the approach that we have taken achieves a balance, with confidentiality only where needed.
How might other ICRC members describe your personal style when grappling with complicated, controversial issues around the ICRC table? A. I hope they would describe me as fairminded and thorough. I took my responsibilities on ICRC very seriously. As do all ICRC members.
What has surprised you about the College since you became involved? A. I have been surprised at the level of consultation the College undertakes when developing policies. We make great efforts to elicit feedback from the profession, the public, health-care agencies and government on all of our initiatives. And that feedback, in turn, helps us create a better approach or initiative. I also had no idea of what to expect as to the kind of relationship there would be between public members of Council and physician members. But I have been deeply impressed with the desire and commitment of both doctors and public members to work together as advocates for the public. Public members put in incredible hours for very little recognition. It is has not been all happy discoveries. I continue to be disappointed by how the
Q & A
College’ s role is misunderstood by the profession, the general public and the media. For example, the College is much more than ICRC and discipline. Dealing only with complaints and concerns would be an ineffective way to improve care. The Quality Assurance Committee that runs, among other things, the peer assessment program, is a large part of the College. The Out-of-Hospitals Premises Inspection Committee and our partnership with Cancer Care Ontario are also examples of efforts to improve the quality of medical care in this province.
You began your medical career as a general physician. What led you to your decision to go into obstetrics / gynecology? A. I planned to be a family doctor because I liked the continuity and the ability to follow patients broadly and longitudinally. However, as I progressed through my family medicine residency, I was drawn to surgery, to procedural medicine and to the exhilarating experience of helping women and babies in childbirth. I liked the variety, the ability to do office one day, surgery the next and be on call for deliveries the third day. I was still able to follow patients over the years as they planned their families and dealt with reproductive challenges. Despite the late hours and high risks, it has been very rewarding and I do not look forward to retirement.
What do you do to relax? A. I like to relax with family, my kids Adam and Holly have grown up too fast, a common lament. We have a cottage in Haliburton where I am doing all the things I didn’ t get to do as a working class kid growing up in Parry Sound. It’ s the Canadian Dream! MD
Issue 4, 2016 Dialogue 23