The ºÚÁÏÉç’s mandate is to protect the public by ensuring registrants meet expected standards of practice. Practice standards reflect the minimum standard of professional behaviour and ethical conduct that apply in any setting. Standards also reflect relevant legal requirements and are enforceable under the Health Professions Act, RSBC 1996, c.183 (HPA) and ºÚÁÏÉç Bylaws under the HPA.
Before consulting on a new or revised standard, the ºÚÁÏÉç conducts extensive research through literature reviews, cross-jurisdictional scans, reviewing complaints data, and identifying any societal changes that may be relevant to medical practice, such as new legislation.
The ºÚÁÏÉç also benefits from feedback shared by patients about their experiences and perceptions of the care they receive.
The ºÚÁÏÉç’s consultation process has evolved over time to include more focused and targeted engagement with registrants. For example, during the recent consultation on a new standard, Consent to Treatment, the ºÚÁÏÉç met with multiple groups of health-care providers who treat select patient populations such as seniors, Indigenous people, transgender youth and those living with mental health or substance use disorders.
The overarching goal of the ºÚÁÏÉç’s consultation on practice standards, whether they are new or updated, is to obtain feedback from registrants to ensure practice standards are clear and relevant, and to highlight the ºÚÁÏÉç’s expectations of professional and ethical conduct.