Submitted by Section Chair, Stacey Grubb
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 3
February 5, 2014
Guest Speaker: Susan Precious, Branch MacMaster
Meeting Title/Topic: Sexual Misconduct Complaints
Synopsis: Susan Precious spoke about sexual misconduct complaints under the Health Professions Act, providing a brief penalty update and some comments about resolving these matters by consent.
April 8, 2014
Guest Speaker: William Clark, Harper Grey
Meeting Title/Topic: Complaints against Medical Professionals under the Health Professions Act
Synopsis: William Clark presented on dispositions of complaints against medical professionals under the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183. Mr. Clark’s presentation focused in particular on the role of the Health Professions Review Board in reviewing decisions of the various colleges and recent jurisprudence on the duty of the colleges to give reasons.
May 14, 2014
Guest Speakers: Andrew Nathanson and Gavin Cameron, Fasken Martineau LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Are HIV-Related Medical Records Obtainable through Production Orders?
Synopsis: Andrew Nathanson and Gavin Cameron presented on the recent decision of Dhillon J. in Vancouver Police Department v. BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, a case in which the BC Centre for Excellence successfully obtained an exemption from a production order for HIV-related medical records in connection with a police investigation. In granting the exemption application, Dhillon J. found that the medical records were privileged, and that protecting the vital and necessary link between effective research and delivery of HIV-AIDS treatment significantly outweighed the public interest in providing police access to the Centre’s records in furtherance of their investigation.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
While we did not have a meeting in the fall this year, we were able to provide our members with 3 meetings in the spring. The meeting topics were varied and well received by the membership.