August 4, 2001

The cooling off period for the Health Sciences Association and the BC Nurses Unions ends Wednesday, August 8th. Speculation is that government will act. It could extend the cooling off period, or it could legislate a dispute resolution mechanism ranging from imposing a contract to some form of binding arbitration. But what about the physicians?

The BC Liberals have been notorious for their double standard when it comes to dealing with different "classes" of health workers. In the pre-election period, HEU members were referred to as "toilet cleaners" while appeals where made to throw more money at the doctors.

On Saturday, August 4th, Lions Gate Hospital is reported to have referred two patients to other hospitals because of the refusal of its physicians to work on-call. A week earlier, the College of Physicians and Surgeons sent a letter to all BC physicians urging them not to engage in such job action while the BC Medical Association was in arbitration with the provincial government. But the preface to the letter sounded like it could have come, not from the body whose job it is to protect the public, but rather from the doctors' union. The College letter said "Significant disparities have been created in compensation for on-call services and it is not surprising that physicians are insisting on being treated equally. Relative recognition of specialist on-call services for hospitals should not vary from place to place." What business does the College have offering such comments on bargaining? The BCMA represents the economic interests of physicians while the College is supposed to protect the public.

The College concluded its letter with "... the College feels strongly that its members should allow the arbitration process between the Ministry of Health and the B.C.M.A. to be completed and that current or planned withdrawals of services should be abandoned." Now it is time for the College to put its feelings into action and protect the public. At least HSA and the BCNU maintain essential service levels as agreed to before the Labour Relations Board.

The Campbell government will appear to be as hypocritical in government as it was in opposition if it acts against HSA and the BCNU while ignoring the relative inaction of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. When similar circumstances arose in Quebec, the Quebec College is reported to have made it clear that job action would amount to unethical conduct. It is time for the BC College to recognize that its job is to protect the public.

Attorney General Geoff Plant has announced a review of all administrative justice agencies. Self-regulating bodies such as the College of Physicians ought to be part of that review. The College derives its authority from a provincial statute. The provincial government appears to have no trouble "reviewing" the WCB, the LRB, the Human Rights Commission and dozens of other agencies. Why would it not review the College of Physicians and Surgeons and treat its failures the same as it would treat the failures of any other agency whose job it is to protect the public?