CLEAR

Telemedicine: new regulations needed for practitioners

Judah Issa writes in the October 2007 National Review of Medicine that "technology inevitably advances faster than the regulations designed to govern it, and the growing field of telemedicine is no exception." He reports that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan is now considering offering "easily acquired, reduced-rate telemedicine licences." Despite decades of discussion, issues such as locus of practice and reimbursement remain unresolved both in Canada and the US. Read more.   For curent coverage of projects around the world, see iHealthBeat's telemedicine page.

Oregon: 10th anniversary of the Death With Dignity Act

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life marked the tenth anniversary of Oregon's Death With Dignity Act by asking two experts to discuss Oregon’s law and the future of the debate in the US. Several states have considered, but did not adopt, the Oregon model. In 2006, the US Supreme Court upheld Oregon's right to allow its physicians to prescribe lethal drug doses for terminally ill patients. This decision may result in further legislative consideration of this controversial issue.  Read Pew's analysis of current public opinion.   Read the transcript or listen to audio of the Pew Forum discussion.

Quebec: rules relaxed for foreign-trained doctors

The Collège des médecins du Québec has announced that foreign-trained medical graduates with restricted permits may, after five years, qualify for a regular permit. They will then be able to practice more freely in the province, without the limitation of working within a sponsoring establishment. The change should permit increased access to physicians within a short time as 175 physicians qualify now to work under the new rules. Read more.

Illinois: "morning after" settlement filed

Under a pending settlement, pharmacists who object to dispensing "morning after" pills will now be permitted to step aside and allow another pharmacist to take over. Several lawsuits followed Governor Blagojevich's 2005 order that pharmacists must dispense prescribed medications or face discipline by the state board. The Illinois Supreme Court will hear a case filed by a dissatisfied pharmacist. Read more.   A Solomon-like settlement.   The supreme court to hear case.

California: controversial chiropractic bill vetoed

Following months of public debate over alleged improprieties by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the legislature forwarded a bill for the governor's signature. Senate Bill 801 would have asked the voters on a June ballot to move the board into the Department of Consumers Affairs. The department regulates most professions in California.  Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, saying that he is satisfied the board is working with the department to correct any deficiencies and there is no need to remove its autonomous status. Read more.

Nevada: state employee not immune from malpractice suit

A physician argued that, as a employee of a state medical school, he could not be sued for malpractice. The Nevada Supreme court said that the physician is not entitled to immunity based on his status as a state employee, but he is entitled to a $50,000 statutory cap on damages. Read more. Read the opinion: Martinez v. Maruszczak.  In an aside, the Nevada Supreme Court now makes available podcasts of oral arguments heard before the court.

UK: medical career independent report

Aspiring to Excellence: Findings and Recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers makes far-reaching recommendations, including particularly revising the process for permitting junior doctors to move into specialized areas. The report follows the failure of an online selection process intended to facilitate specialized doctor training. The system's inadequacy led to doctors demonstrating in the streets.  Read more.  Comments on the report are solicited by e-consultation until November 20, 2007.

Illinois: updated nurse practice act

Governor Blagojevich has signed an updated nurse practice act extending the board's sunset date from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2018. Among other new provisions, advanced practice nurses (APNs) working in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers no longer need collaborative agreements with physicians. The new law allows for future APN practice expansions through the state medical board. Read more.     Public Law 095-0639 should be available online soon.

Manitoba: funding for foreign trained engineers

The province will give the University of Manitoba an additional $1 million to expand participation in its Internationally Educated Engineers Qualification program. For each of the next four years, 40 students will receive training, up from the current 12. The one-year program features both an academic component and paid work-experience placements in participants' engineering areas. Read more.

California: licensing surgical clinics

The Department of Health Services decided that a doctor-owned surgical clinic in which non-owner doctors operate needed a license from the department. Citing statutory ambiguity, the owner sued for relief from the department's demand. An interpretation by the California 3rd appellate district court is that physician-owned surgical clinics employing general anesthesia are exempt from licensure by the department and are subject to oversight by the medical board. Capen v. Shewry, case number C047172.