Canadian Insurance News

Re: Time to end the excuses, Editorial Sept. 30

Re: Pain Clinic MD faces disciplinary hearing, Sept. 25

Time to end the excuses, Editorial Sept. 30

Health Minister Eric Hoskins tells the Star that he is looking for “new tools” to protect patient safety in response to the Star’s excellent exposé of the secrecy in private colonoscopy and pain clinics and the harm done to unsuspecting patients.

While scientific evidence clearly showing death rates are at least 2 per cent higher at private clinics and more expensive than at public hospitals, the only tool that’s appropriate is a moratorium on private clinics. However the health minister and his Liberal government are not just moving colonoscopies and pain work out of hospitals, but other surgeries, out too. When hospitals are financially stressed, why would the province opt for higher costs surgeries at private clinics?

Protecting the public should be the minister’s top priority – and public hospitals, not secretive private clinics, are the best place to do that.

Michael Hurley, President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE

Why is it that the citizens of Toronto are now dependent on a small group of persistent and dedicated investigative journalists at the Star to keep us safe and healthy?

The Harper government’s Health Canada, after being “outed” by the Star, decided to keep a sharper eye on Apotex and their practise of using sub-standard ingredients in their drugs. And now a preventable outbreak of Hepatitis C at three private colonoscopy clinics is revealed by Toronto Public Health, “when pressed by the Star.”

This is the same Toronto Public Health that posts signs in local restaurants and notifications on their website of evidence of insects and rodent droppings. When did these health agencies relinquish their roles to report serious hazards and health risks to the public?

The Star has now become our de facto healthcare watchdog.

Christine A. Featherstone, Toronto

Blaming one doctor at the clinic is the coward’s way out. As well, the public deserves to know who at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario knew about this life threatening problem and when.

Only when there is a full public inquiry into Dr. Peter Rothbart and the CPSO will the public be satisfied its interest was the most important factor.

Murray Scott, Toronto

Pain Clinic MD faces disciplinary hearing, Sept. 25

Back in 2011, the Star’s Jesse McLean wrote a scathing account of the secrecy surrounding Toronto Public Health inspections of swimming pools, the incidence of waterborne illness and hygiene infractions. TPH then hastily announced the creation of a new hotline where the public could readily access results of pool inspections within 48 hours.

The hotline was a disappointment and a sham. Callers were told they had to file a freedom of information request — the same as before.

Now TPH associate officer of health Dr. Michael Finklestein is dangling the carrot again assuring us that information about outbreaks and inspections at community health care clinics will be provided via the TPH website.

Can we believe our public health authority? Before Mr. Finklestein is allowed to make more empty promises, perhaps he should make good on the old ones.

Susan Cusimano, Toronto

That the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is not obliged to notify the police when a doctor like Sastri Maharajh sexually assaults female patients is peculiar enough. Perhaps physicians and surgeons are analogous to hockey players — no one over there seems to get charged with assault either.

Strange also is the college’s decision to let Maharajh continue practising but on men only. I guess the college believes that only women can be sexually assaulted.

Geoff Rytell, Toronto

It is very disturbing to learn from Theresa Boyle’s investigative report that Toronto Public Health and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario failed Ontarians by keeping the hep C outbreaks secret since 2011.

Such gross lack of oversight and transparency, in addition to the dereliction of duty by the regulators, demands the direct intervention by Health Minister Eric Hoskins. Maintaining public trust in our health institutions, that are run with the help of public funds, is of the utmost importance.

Canadian health care is regarded very highly globally but when patients are put at risk by medical regulators, who are charged with ensuring high medical standards and outcomes, there needs to be a public outcry — leading to an early resolution of this sorry state of affairs.

Rudy Fernandes, Mississauga

Health Minister Eric Hoskins is quoted as saying that “Ontarians have my commitment as minister that we will do whatever is necessary to protect the safety of patients.” This statement does not square with his refusal to review the provisions of the Regulated Health Professions Act, which was reported by the Star last Thursday.

Dr. Hopkins instead relies on the college to put “the safety of Ontarians first.” Yet, as disclosed again and again, most recently in several investigations published by the Star, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has consistently failed to live up to this obligation. In refusing to review the legislation, it appears that the Minister’s focus, just as the CPSO’s, is on protecting the medical profession rather than pursuing the interest of the public.

Alf Brandl, Mississauga

Pinpointing Toronto Public Health for the transparency issues is only one avenue. What about the other health care workers in the clinic, e.g. nurses, who are mandated by the College of Nurses of Ontario to protect the public, and practice according to the Professional Standards (CNO, 2002).

One particular indicator under accountability — “taking action in situations in which client safety and well-being are compromised” — is fitting, seeing as though they would likely be aware of the problems through the mandatory health and safety committee, and are also responsible for cleaning and sterilizing equipment.

Marie Sartor, Richmond Hill

Source: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2014/10/06/public_safety_must_be_top_priority.html