Looking Out For You
In British Columbia, virtually all heath care professionals are accountable to a regulatory college, board or association. These organizations are responsible, under provincial legislation for “serving and protecting the public.” They do this by communicating new developments in professional practice and ensuring that their regulated professionals are qualified and follow clearly defined standards of ethics and practice. The organizations also act when it appears that one of their regulated professionals is practising in a manner that is incompetent, unethical or impaired by alcohol, drugs or a mental condition.

This public service and protection is provided by professionals themselves. The public is directly involved through government appointed representatives on the organizations’ boards of directors. The organizations make regular reports to the provincial government.