Ontario Doctors Can Now Treat Family Members and Close Relations Amid Primary Care Crisis

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has relaxed its policy prohibiting doctors from treating themselves, family members, and others close to them. Previously, doctors were only allowed to treat relatives and others in emergencies or minor conditions if no other qualified health professional was available. The updated policy recognizes the province's primary care crisis and acknowledges that patients in smaller communities, including Indigenous communities, may have limited access to medical care.

Key Takeaways:

• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has updated its policy to allow doctors to treat themselves, family members, and others close to them in non-emergency situations if no other qualified health professional is readily available.
• The updated policy responds to the province's primary care crisis, which has resulted in limited access to medical care for patients in smaller communities, including Indigenous communities.
• Physicians can provide a range of medical care, including ordering tests and treating illnesses and injuries, but cannot provide ongoing treatment to themselves or friends and family members.
• Doctors are still prohibited from doing intimate examinations or prescribing narcotics to people close to them, except in emergency situations.
• The college has acknowledged that this updated policy does not allow physicians to provide treatment to themselves or friends and family members on an ongoing basis.

Statistics:

• $2.1 billion: The amount the Ontario government is investing to connect every person in the province to primary care.
• Ontario has a shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.
• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has relaxed its policy to address the province's primary care crisis.

Sources:

• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• The Canadian Press