Context: In November 2022, the BC government passed The Health Professions and Occupations Act (previously Bill 36), introducing significant changes to the healthcare system. These changes affect healthcare professionals' ability to provide personalized care and have far-reaching consequences for both practitioners and patients. Below are some of the most pressing questions that must be addressed.

Questions About the Health Professions and Occupations Act

The Health Professions and Occupations Act is raising serious concerns for both healthcare workers and the public in BC. Below are the key questions we believe the government needs to answer. Help spread the word and hold them accountable for the decisions that are shaping the future of our healthcare system in BC.

For the Public:

• 1. With healthcare professionals leaving the province or retiring due to the Health Professions and Occupations Act, how will this aggravate the already critical shortages in healthcare?
  - What will happen to wait times and access to services such as medical specialists, medical imaging, medical doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, etc.?
• 2. How does the public feel about healthcare decisions being dictated by political appointees rather than qualified practitioners?
  - How does this affect trust in the healthcare system?
• 3. How are patient rights and privacy protected now that political appointees can seize medical records without a warrant?
• 4. What is the government's plan to fill the gaps in healthcare as doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, and other professionals are leaving BC?
  - Why would healthcare workers want to work in the very environment that is chasing Doctors away?
  - How will the loss of these professionals affect access to care, especially in rural areas?
• 5. How will the introduction of fines and the risk of jail time for healthcare workers lead to further delays or prevent access to care for the public?
  - Could this result in fewer professionals willing to take on high-risk patients?
• 6. With healthcare practitioners required to follow government-mandated therapeutic guidelines, how can the public be confident these guidelines are in their best interests?
  - How will these restrictions impact the quality and availability of care?

For Healthcare Workers:

• 1. Under this act, anonymous complaints can lead to immediate suspensions for healthcare workers without any investigation. How can the people we recently hailed as heroes, protect their reputations and careers from false accusations?
  - Does this create a workplace where the fear of complaints gets in the way of providing good patient care?
  - Would the current members of government in BC, agree to work under the same rules?
• 2. The Health Professions and Occupations Act gave political appointees the ability to fine Doctors up to $500,000 and put them in prison for up to 2 years. This puts extraordinary pressure on healthcare workers in BC. As a result, doctors are now deciding whether or not to retire or move away. How does this affect their choice to keep working in the province?
  - What impact might this have on the medical field as a whole?
  - How will this affect the current crisis in Doctor availabilty?
• 3. The Health Professions and Occupations Act gives political appointees the right to seize patient records without a warrant or court order. This raises serious concerns about confidentiality and legal liabilities for healthcare workers. How can they safeguard patient confidentiality under these conditions?
  - What ability do Doctors now have to keep their patient's records private?
  - How will this affect the trust that patients place in their Doctor?
  - How will this affect a patient's ability to be honest with their Doctor, when they need to share sensitive information?
  - What steps can Doctors take to avoid potential legal issues?
• 4. How does the ending of self-regulation in healthcare colleges, with advisory boards now run by people chosen by the government, affect the independence and ethical standards of healthcare workers?
  - Will this reduce healthcare workers' ability to advocate for the best interests of their patients?
  - What happens when political appointees decide on a course of action for the residents of BC, that the medical community rejects as neither safe or effective?
• 5. Recent changes in the act have shifted the responsibility for health guidelines from healthcare professionals to political appointees. What risks do healthcare workers face in this new framework?
  - How will this affect their ability to provide personalized care?
• 6. What are the long-term career prospects for healthcare workers in BC when they are forced to comply with guidelines that may not align with their training or the needs of their patients?
  - Could this lead to an exit of skilled professionals from the province?

If these questions concern you, we encourage you to share this page and voice your opinion. Together, we can demand answers and make a difference for healthcare in BC.