photo: D. W. Dorken |
Rocco Gerace, MD Registrar
The expectation that physicians will behave professionally remains even in the context of advocacy or conflict
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Recently, articles have appeared in the media that focused on incidents of physician bullying – specifically, doctors who lashed out against other doctors on social media and in emails with obscene language and menacing threats. Physicians who engage in threatening or bullying behaviour, or use profane or abusive language are advised that allegations of abusive conduct are taken very seriously, and investigations will be decided in accordance with our public interest mandate. This may include disciplinary action. I was particularly disturbed to hear allegations that medical trainees have been subjected to threats and intimidation. Physicians are expected to model appropriate behaviour for trainees and foster a culture of respect within the professional environment. At all times, the College expects that physicians will act respectfully toward their patients, colleagues and other members of the healthcare team. The expectation that physicians will behave professionally remains even in the context of advocacy or conflict. This kind of behaviour does little to instill public confidence in physicians and, in fact, tarnishes |
the reputation of the profession as a whole. Physicians are advised that abusive conduct will not be tolerated – regardless of whether it is in the operating room, their office, or on social media. We believe deeply in the issues surrounding professionalism. If you have been the victim of physician bullying, I urge you to contact us.
****** In this issue, we address different aspects of Bill 87, the Protecting Patients Act. The Bill proposes a complex series of amendments with broad implications for all areas of health-care regulation, including provisions related to sexual abuse. One of these provisions expands the list of acts of sexual abuse that will result in mandatory revocation. The added acts that will result in mandatory revocation include: touching of the patient’ s genitals, anus, breasts or buttocks( with an explicit exception for appropriate touching of a clinical nature). Some physicians have put forward the assertion that expanding the list of acts of sexual abuse will make doctors vulnerable to accusations of sexual misconduct. They warn that basic care will suffer because physicians will be nervous to touch patients in the course of carrying out a clinical exam.
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Issue 1, 2017 Dialogue 7 |