Here’s why B.C. doctors are upset about changes to disciplinary colleges

A new law that changes the way B.C.’s health colleges are regulated is facing backlash by some doctors who say it gives the government too much power over how 130,000 health professionals like chiropractors, dentists and doctors are disciplined.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, however, said the law is a necessary fix that will help patients by improving oversight of the colleges and make sure cases of misconduct by practitioners are made public.

The B.C. Liberals, B.C. Greens, and Doctors of B.C. are concerned that the Health Professions and Occupations Act was rushed through the Legislature with limited debate in late November, catching health professionals off-guard when it became law on Nov. 24.

The law will consolidate the number of health colleges in B.C. from 15 down to six. One amalgamation will combine the colleges for dietitians, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech and hearing professionals into one regulator for allied health professionals. The other amalgamation will create a single college for chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncturists.