CLEAR

SC Medical Board Rewriting Medical Practice Act

Amid protests from medical associations, the South Carolina Medical Board is rewriting its medical practice act. A controversial provision would allow the board to confirm the existence of a complaint or investigation, although details would not be available.

"By allowing allegations to be reported without a clear finding of wrongdoing, the South Carolina regulators would be, in effect, encouraging patients to make ill-informed decisions about their physicians based upon incomplete and misleading information," said Robert Mills, a spokesman for the American Medical Association.

read more: myrtlebeachonline.com

Canadian National Physician Survey Predicts Shortages

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) have released the results of the second phase of the National Physician Survey (NPS) involving over 21,000 physicians.

"Our governments have committed to universal access to care, a principle enshrined in the Canada Health Act, but we are seeing signs that this very principle is being challenged by changes in physician resources," said Dr. Alain Pavilanis, President of the CFPC.

full press release

RCMP Arrest Immigration Consultant

The owner of Status Policy Ltd. and a member of the fledgling Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants was arrested for advising clients to break the immigration law.

story at globeandmail.com

New Jersey Lawyers balk at Paying Doctors Fee

Lawyers are suing over a law requiring that they, along with selected doctors, pay a fee to help high-risk medical practitioners with the cost of malpractice insurance.

More at NorthJersey.com

Ohio Governor Seeks Closer Board Oversight

Hearings are underway for Governor Bob Taft's spending plan which would include placing sixteen autonomous boards in the Department of Health and another ten boards under the Department of Commerce.

Read Cleveland Plain Dealer Story

Regulation of UK Cosmetic Surgery to be Increased

The British Broadcasting Corporation reports that the regulation of cosmetic surgery carried out in the private sector is to be tightened in the United Kingdom. Following the publication of two reports, England's Chief Medical Officer has given regulatory oversight of non-surgical procedures to the Healthcare Commission, which currently regulates surgical procedures.  These reports follow critical press stories about a regulatory regime perceived as too lax.

The full story can be read at http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4213415.stm