FEATURE
Seeking greater independence for the Discipline Committee
Council members discussed Bill 87 at the February meeting photo: claudia hung
Bill 87
Council will request an amendment that would provide for greater independence of the Discipline Committee. Such a move, says Council, would address the perception that the Discipline Committee is too closely linked to the College and would advance Council’ s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the discipline and hearings process. The decision was made in context of discussions about Bill 87, which contains a number of new powers for the Minister of Health, including a broad regulation-making authority that would allow the Minister to make regulations with respect to all aspects of the structure of colleges’ seven statutory committees including: composition, panel quorum, eligibility requirements and disqualification grounds. The College does not yet know how the Minister and government plan to use this proposed authority. Currently, the Discipline Committee is composed of members of Council – both public and professional – and physicians who are not members of Council. Council supports the government objective of accountability, but took the position that the College needs to be able to maintain flexibility with respect to the composition of committees and have them remain established in by-law instead of regulation. Council members noted that there would be a significant loss of flexibility to the colleges by enshrining these matters in regulations.“ This College is regularly improving and changing its by-laws in response to new and unforeseen situations that arise. Regulations create a one-size fits all approach, which may compromise our ability to effectively fulfill our mandate,” says Dr. David Rouselle, College President. Dr. Rouselle also noted the Minister’ s proposed authority in regard to committee composition and stated that physician contribution is vitally important for the effectiveness of committees. He noted, for example, that physician experience was essential in credential review on the Registration Committee and consideration of clinical matters on the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee and the Discipline Committee. MD
Issue 1, 2017 Dialogue 13