MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
requires both physician and public member contribution. Practical problems may arise if physicians are unable to contribute their experience and clinical knowledge to college committees. There are instances where physician expertise is essential – credential review on the Registration Committee and consideration of clinical matters on ICRC and the Discipline Committee, to name just a few.
We will keep you abreast of all changes as the Bill moves through the legislative process.
****** We have written before in these pages about the opioid and drug crisis. It is costing us hundreds of lives each year. In fact, a friend of my family – a bright, young woman of 22 – was among the number of Ontario fatalities last year.
There are many reasons for opioid misuse, and it is an issue owned by all of society. The victims of addiction always deserve our support and help. And to the extent that we can mitigate the opioid crisis by supporting physicians in moving to better practice and prescribing standards, the College is prepared to do all that we can.
On page 24, we present an infographic based on the Ontario Narcotics Atlas. The Atlas provides a comprehensive picture of opioid prescribing and dispensing activity in Ontario and has been created using data collected by the Narcotics Monitoring System. The Atlas describes opioid utilization across Ontario – the individuals receiving opioids, and patterns in opioid prescribing and dispensing over time and across geographies. I urge you to take a look at it and see how your community compares.
In closing, I would just like to say how honoured I am to be the President of this organization for the next year. I look forward to working with all of you. MD
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Elaine McNinch, Managing Editor
Mailing address: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 80 College St, Toronto, ON, M5G 2E2 Fax:( 416) 961-8035 Email: editor @ cpso. on. ca
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Dialogue Issue 1, 2017