FROM THE REGISTRAR’S DESK
Regulation in a
changing world
I
Dan Faulkner
Interim Registrar
Today, public
participation and
engagement is
not only critically
important, but has
become the norm
in most aspects of
our work
t is a pleasure for me to serve
as the Interim Registrar until
early June, when Dr. Nancy
Whitmore joins the organiza-
tion as the new College Registrar
and CEO.
It is certainly a busy time at the
College. As you read through the
pages of this issue of Dialogue, you
will see that Council has been active
on a number of different matters
dedicated to the issues of medical
regulation and public protection. As
examples, the College was pleased
with the January decision of the
Superior Court of Justice related
to our Professional Obligations
and Human Rights and Medical
Assistance in Dying policies, a deci-
sion that supports patient autonomy
and access to medical services. We
continue to actively work with
partners to address the myriad of
issues related to opioid prescribing,
use and misuse. And internally, we
are seeing unprecedented increases
in public complaints and investiga-
tions, putting stress on many parts
of the organization.
In my years of service as Deputy
Registrar, I have witnessed the Col-
lege withstand numerous complex
challenges. Our capacity and ability
to do so, is in large part related to
the profession-public partnership
that continues to build meaningful
and sophisticated initiatives.
In the last issue of Dialogue, Dr.
Rocco Gerace reflected on his 16
years in the role as Registrar. He de-
scribed the changing face of regula-
tion as direct physician involvement
and participation, working with
members of the public to regulate
the practice of medicine. Twenty-
five years ago it was quite rare for
the public to be involved in College
work. Today, public participation
and engagement is not only criti-
cally important, but has become the
norm in most aspects of our work.
Members of the public participate in
policy development, hear discipline
cases, review assessment results and
decide on the appropriate outcome
in investigations. At the most recent
meeting of Council, for example, the
Continuity of Care and Closing
a Medical Practice policies were
discussed. Neither of these policies
could sufficiently anticipate the
needs of patients without listening
to public input at every step in the
policy development and approval
process.
Ontario is not alone; we are
witnessing a transformation in
professional regulation in health and
ISSUE 1, 2018 DIALOGUE
9