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Are medical errors the third leading cause of death or disability and what can we do to protect ourselves?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - March 4, 2018
The TEDx Stanley Park event at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver on Saturday March 3, 2018 was incredible with 13 (a bakers dozen) memorable and inspiring speakers and 4 brief, fun energerizer programs to keep the audience engaged. Two of the presentations addressed medical errors.
With cancer as the leading cause of death and heart disease as the second leading cause, medical errors are referred to by some as the third leading cause of death and disability.
Whether errors are third or not, it makes sense that anything that helps to reduce or prevent medical errors is worth pursuing. Every error that can be prevented has direct benefit to individuals and their families.
Requirements to be Deputy Registrar at College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSBC) – Is something different?
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Z. Essak, MD – Vancouver, BC – 2015 Apr 23
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is looking to hire a new Deputy Registrar with the deadline for applications of April 30, 2015 fast approaching.
Is there something different about the experience required in this job posting – “a career opportunity in medical regulation”?
The proven experience and qualifications all candidates should have begins with, "minimum 10 years of senior administrative experience in a complex health-related organization (e.g. regulator, health authority, association, etc.)"
Also the requirements, while including "medical degree preferred", are open to others with "master of business/health administration or law degree also accepted".
Is this a sign of changes or a shift underway at the College (CPSBC)?
CMAJ news: Alarm growing over limited access to BC PharmaNet data by scientists
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On Monday April 22, 2013 the CMAJ, Canadian Medical Association Journal, published news of the growing alarm over limited access to BC PharmaNet data by scientists hobbling drug-safety watchdogs.
Spanning eleven months, amid abrupt dismissals of staff and scientists, a cloud of wrongful dismissal claims and pending an investigation, the ministry has severely restricted access to data from its PharmaNet databases.
Dr. David Henry, chief executive officer of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Ontario, warns "The most comprehensive data in Canada has been denied to us," noting that the BC government has failed to respond to repeated inquiries from alarmed scientists across Canada. "We've not been given a way forward."
The PMA results are in but how much support is there really? - the Simi Sara Show, CKNW
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The results of the vote on the 2012 Physician Master Agreement (PMA) are in but how much support is there for it, really?
Listen to The Simi Sara Show July 25, 2012 broadcast on CKNW Radio and the Chorus network.
The show starts with Dr Shelley Ross, BCMA President and host Michael Smyth on the Bill Good Show including an audio clip of Dr Roland Orfaly.
Then Simi Sara speaks with Dr Dennis Karpiak and Dr Zafar Essak.
Here it is.
BCCLA provides synopsis of the SCC decision on death with dignity
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The BC Civil Liberties Association has posted a brief synopsis of the Supreme Court of Canada decision on death with dignity.
The BCCLA filed the case in 2011 on behalf of Gloria Taylor, who suffered with ALS, Dr William Schoichet, a family doctor and Ms. Carter and Mr. Johnson from Roberts Creek, BC who accompanied Ms. Carter's 89 year old mother, Kathleen (Kay) Carter, to Switzerland to peacefully end her life.
Opinion: B.C. doctors have been kept in the dark about Doctors of BC bylaw amendments
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Dr Caroline Wang, Vancouver BC. January 18, 2017.
Doctors of BC members are being encouraged by the association’s leadership to vote in favour of proposed bylaw amendments to relinquish their democratic right to elect the board of directors. If passed, the new policies and governance structure would, in effect, disenfranchise the approximately 12,000 physician members as the owners of the sole representative association for the medical profession in B.C.
Most worrisome, the majority of doctors appear to be unaware of the profound implications and risks of the proposed changes that would impact physicians, patients and the health-care system. It’s little wonder that the vast majority of doctors, who are interested in practising medicine and not trained in matters of policy governance, would choose to ignore the governance referendum as irrelevant to their practice. They don’t know what they don’t know.
Do doctors need legislation to assist patients end of life?
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Since the Supreme Court of Canada February 6, 2015 decision on physician assisted suicide the question on people's minds is, "Do physicians need legislation to help them with this ruling?"
The BC Civil Liberties Association ( BCCLA) was quick to allay any fears of a void occurring should new legislation not be enacted by Federal or Provincial Governments reminding that if no action is taken, physician-assisted dying will be regulated in the same manner as other health care matters.
What is Bill C-51 about?
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Have you been wondering what Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act 2015, is about?
Here's a two minute guide.
eHealth series in the Province newspaper
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Vancouver, BC - Sep 24, 2013
Beginning at the end of last week and continuing this week the Province newspaper is publishing a series of articles on eHealth.
Topics so far include:
Video link saves time all around.
Website brings help to chronic disease sufferers.
New Electronic tools are making patients active partners in their own health care.
Isn't there a medical app for that?
A doctor, a patient and an iPad: Innovation on the front lines.
Dr Eric Cadesky becomes new President-Elect Doctors Of BC
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - July 26, 2017.
Congratulations to Dr Eric Cadesky on winning the election for President-Elect of the Doctors Of BC, the BC Medical Association.
It has been an interesting campaign with opportunities to get to know both candidates, Dr Eric Cadesky and Dr Jean-Noel Mahy, through not only their websites but also meeting them in person at the debate and for everyone to see them on the YouTube live stream and recorded video of the debate.
Seeing both candidates making such efforts to promote thought and discussion about health care in BC it is disappointing that only 16 percent of doctor members even voted.
