The British Columbia government has released a proposal to create a single regulator for lawyers, notaries, and--for the first time in BC--paralegals, with the intention of making it easier and more affordable for the public to access legal services and advice. The Ministry of the Attorney General has had meetings with the Law Society of British Columbia, the BC Notaries Association, and the BC Paralegals Association. Key reforms in the intentions paper include a single regulator for all current and future legal service providers that would establish requirements and standards of practice, an election/appointment process to ensure that the board reflects all British Columbians, an adaptable licensing system to respond to the changing legal landscape, a focus on the public interest rather than membership-driven, and culturally safe support within the complaints process.
October 13, 2022
BC proposes single regulator for lawyers, notaries and paralegals
September 12, 2022
Philippines: PRC ends policy on unpaid debt
The Professional Regulation Commission in the Philippines has eliminated a Department of Labor and Employment policy that prevented teachers with unpaid debts or pending administrative cases from renewing their licenses.
August 31, 2022
Ontario: right to disconnect legislation
Right-to-disconnect legislation took effect in Ontario in June, requiring employers with 25 or more employees to develop a written policy about employees disconnecting from work email and phone during non-working hours. Quebec has introduced similar legislation, and Prince Edward Island is reviewing its employments Standards Act.
August 24, 2022
Ethiopia: research on hiring bodies for health professionals
A study was conducted in Ethiopia to analyze the licensing practices of healthcare professional hiring bodies. "One-fifth of recruiting bodies (20.55%) had experience in hiring health professionals without a license. Moreover, 136 (37.3%) of the health professional hiring bodies had a mechanism in place to verify the license's originality, of which, 40 (29.4%) said they found fake licenses during recruitment. Fifty-seven (15.62%) of respondents had seen a health professional being recruited without a license in their institution, and 40 (10.9%) had taken part in the recruitment of health professionals without a license. Two hundred and eleven (60.5%) of the hiring bodies had never attended or conducted training about health professionals' licenses in their institution.
About 56% of the health professional hiring bodies of Ethiopia were found to have good licensing practices and the rest 44% have poor licensing practices while recruiting health professionals in their institutions."
Canada appoints chief nursing officer
Reinstating a position that was eliminated in 2012, Canada's federal government has appointed a national chief nursing officer. The role will "provide strategic advice from a nursing perspective to Health Canada on priority policy and program areas, including health workforce planning, long-term care, home care, palliative care, mental health, alcohol and drug use, as well as input on models of care and scope of practice and competencies." Concerns have been raised about the nationwide shortage of nurses, temporary closures of departments and services, and the strain on the healthcare system.
August 18, 2022
Racism in Nursing report
The American Nurses Association's National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing has released their foundational report, exploring how racism shows up in the nursing profession. The report series
- "centers the experiences of nurses of color in U.S. history and how structural and systemic racism have hindered access to educational and professional opportunities as well as institutional power,"
- "examines power, privilege, and prejudice in nursing today,"
- focuses on "creating equitable and inclusive learning environments [that] will lead to increased access and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff,"
- explores way to "eliminate racism in existing policy" and the need to create "new policies that address past harms and advance the nursing profession,"
- "explores the ethical obligations to develop a culture where all staff and patients are treated fairly," and
- explores how "minority nurse researchers are key to address health disparities and inequities."
August 10, 2022
Canada: concern over corporate ownership
As more corporate chains are buying up owner-operated dentistry, optometry and veterinary clinics, concern has been raised about the varied levels of reaction by the regulatory colleges. Disclosure of ownership is one area of concern, arguing that the patient deserves to know who the majority owner is rather than allowing the corporate owner to maintain the clinic's independent branding. Conflict of interest is another concern if a clinic is owned by a company that also manufactures prescribed medical equipment which may then be prescribed even if a competitor's equipment is more appropriate for the patient. Discussions have stalled about reforms to address regulatory colleges' legislated authority over companies.
July 20, 2022
Amendments to BC's Professional Governance Act
British Columbia's Professional Governance Amendment Act came into force on June 2, 2022. This article details some of the key updates and additions. Non-payment of fees by a registrant will be a discretionary revocation rather than a mandatory revocation. Also, failure to complete continuing education requirements can be treated as an administrative matter with suspension or cancellation of registration. Under new amendments, regulatory bodies may be required to pay an annual fee to the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance. A new section allow Indigenous peoples to undertake traditional practices and knowledge in relation to biology, forestry and agrology without considering this as regulated services restricted to registrants.
April 20, 2022
Tennessee: new law on judicial/agency deference
A new law in Tennessee instructs courts to review cases involving government agencies de novo ("from the beginning") instead of deferring to the agency's interpretation of its rules and statutes. Courts will resolve any remaining ambiguities against the government agency. The new law aligns with other areas of law and mirrors how ambiguities in criminal cases are resolved in favor of the accused.
March 17, 2022
States introduce long-term telehealth legislation
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states introduced or amended telehealth legislation on a temporary basis via waivers. Several states are now introducing legislation to allow telehealth on a more permanent basis.
According to Manatt's tracking, "Three states introduced legislation that would allow health care providers licensed, certified or registered in another state to provide services via telehealth to patients in state if specific criteria are met. One state has introduced a bill that specifically creates an allowance for out-of-state providers who deliver behavioral or mental health services. Three states introduced bills that would enable providers licensed in the state in which their patients are located to deliver telehealth services without being physically present in the state. Two states introduced bills that would require the creation of a commission or regulatory system to support and guide state actions related to out-of-state providers delivering care via telehealth."
