Article content
Doctors in B.C. could face investigation or penalties from their regulatory body if they contradict public health orders or guidance about COVID-19, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. says.
Some doctors are spreading “misinformation that promotes anti-vaccine, anti-mask wearing, anti-physical distancing and anti-lockdown stances,” the college said in a joint statement with the First Nations Health Authority.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. doctors could face penalty for veering from COVID-19 health guidelines: College Back to video
There’s also a concern that certain doctors are promoting COVID-19 treatments “not supported by widely accepted scientific evidence,” it said.
Interior Health administers over 335,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses
SHARE ON: (Supplied by Pixabay)
Interior Health has surpassed the 335,000 dose milestone in its COVID-19 immunization campaign, as B.C. starts booking appointments for those 43 years old and up and pregnant people.
“Across Interior Health, hundreds of people are attending their appointments at immunization clinics every day and emerging with a dose of vaccine that will protect them from serious illness or death by COVID-19,” said Susan Brown, IH president and CEO. “It’s uplifting to see the excitement of newly vaccinated people.”
IH said it is working with the First Nations Health Authority to coordinate vaccine rollout throughout the region. Together, both health authorities have administered 320,237 first doses and 16,583 second doses as of Friday, May 7th for a total of 336,820.
She says doctors who veer from accepted COVID-19 health orders and guidelines could face an investigation or regulatory action, if the college considers it warranted.
“Physicians must be guided by the laws that govern them, regulatory practice standards and guidelines, the Code of Ethics and Professionalism, and scientific evidence when giving their opinions about COVID-19,” the statement says.
Dr. Nel Wieman, acting deputy chief medical officer of the First Nations Health Authority, says the harm caused by misleading and unsupported information is evident across B.C., particularly in Indigenous communities.
“Indigenous people already face barriers to accessing health care due to systemic racism,” Wieman says in the statement.
Thundering Eagles performing (Photo by Dione Wearmouth, mypgnow.com)
The Urban and Away from Home Indigenous Vaccination Clinic opened its doors with an opening ceremony this morning (Tuesday).
The clinic will be available on May 11th, 13th, 14th, 18th, and 19th to provide first-dose vaccinations to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people living in the Prince George area.
Local Drum Circle, Thundering Eagles performed at the ceremony, and band member Robert Goats from Ulkatcho First Nations was the first to receive his shot at the clinic.
He says the experience was a little nerve-racking at first, but once he entered the clinic his nerves were eased.
Brenna Owen
In this Thursday, May 14, 2020 photo, a doctor holds his stethoscope during a patient visit in Blackburn, England, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors in British Columbia are being warned they could face investigation or penalties from their regulatory body if they contradict public health orders or guidance about COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP May 11, 2021 - 4:30 PM
VANCOUVER - Doctors in British Columbia could face investigation or penalties from their regulatory body if they contradict public health orders or guidance about COVID-19, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. says.
Some doctors are spreading misinformation that promotes anti-vaccine, anti-mask wearing, anti-physical distancing and anti-lockdown stances, the college said in a joint statement with the First Nations Health Authority.