During 2006 revisions to the society's act, The Law Society of Upper Canada substituted the word licensee for member. At the society's recent annual meeting, a Toronto member introduced a motion stating that “it is demeaning to lawyers to be treated as a class of licensee.” Those present agreed and the motion passed, but the society is not bound by the vote. Read more from the Law Times.
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) invites public comment through May 15, 2008 on its draft version of At-Risk Populations and Pandemic Influenza: Planning Guidance for State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Health Departments.
In an analysis of 2006 census data, Statistics Canada reports that many immigrants remain under-employed because they are not well-informed about licensure requirements in Canadian provinces. Embassy defends post-2006 measures in several Canadian provinces that are specifically designed to evaluate credentials of foreign-trained professionals and help them more smoothly integrate into the work force.
A Superior Court judge has ruled that the legislative cap on non-monetary medical malpractice damages is unconstitutional. His argument is that allowing juries to award larger amounts in other kinds of cases favors the medical community. Read more.
The Auditor General has released a compliance examination report on the Board of Admissions to the Bar for the two-year period ended 30 June 2007. Among other things, the report shows the average cost per discipline case filed during FY2007 was $4,152, an increase $291 over FY2006. The average caseload per judicial officer during FY07 was 411, a decrease of 10 from the preceding fiscal year.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards' Prize jury has announced the winners of its 2008 competition. A copy of the prize book showing details of the winning designs is available upon request.
According to a new performance audit report on the Board of Medicine. management controls are "weak or nonexistent" in many areas. The 34 report findings, which cover fiscal years 2002-2006, include no investigation or final action in 21% of disciplinary cases, missing or lacking written policies and procedures, failure to follow the statute and administrative rules, and staffers hiring family members.Two house committees immediately scheduled a joint hearing to review the board's activities. The board chairman and administrator dispute the report's findings, saying that problems stem from the legislature's failure to provide sufficient money for software and staff. The board is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Read more.
In "License to Serve," State Legislatures reports that states have choices under the “Uniform Emergency Volunteer Healthcare Practitioners Act.” The model legislation is designed to allow health professionals licensed in one state to meet emergency needs in another without worrying about licensure or liability issues. The model would establish a recognition system for registered out-of-state professionals, provide liability protection to volunteers, and also provide for workers' compensation if necessary. A version of the act has passed in three states and is being considered in another six.
As part of the physician profiles it will make available beginning in 2009, the North Carolina Medical Board would like to include malpractice settlement information. The North Carolina Medical Society says publishing this information would not prove useful to consumers and could harm doctors. Read more.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is taking its message to the malls with an “Ugly Business” campaign intended to educate consumers on the dangers of unlicensed activity.
