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www.albertahealthservices.ca

March16,2011LettertophysiciansItisourresponsibilityasclinicalleaders,asitisthecollectiveresponsibilityofallphysiciansandhealthcarepractitioners,tounequivocallyaddresspublicconcernsthatourcolleaguesarerestrictedinanywayfromadvocatingonbehalfoftheirpatients.Thisisnotapoliticalissueupfordebate.Itisnotopinionorcommentary.Asphysiciansandpractitioners,itisourdutytoourpatients,ourcolleaguesandourprofessiontorepresentandarticulatetheneedsandbestinterestsofourpatients,andthehealthsystemasawhole.ItisastandardsetcenturiesagowithintheHippocraticOathanditremainsthetouchstoneforourprofessiontothisday.Assuch,itisanexpectationoftheCollegeofPhysiciansandSurgeonsofAlbertaCodeofConduct,andoftheCanadianMedicalAssociationCodeofEthics.This,anopenlettertoallAlbertaphysicians,isourpersonalcommitmenttodoallinourpowertoenableeveryphysicianinAlbertatomeetthisstandard.Asmedicalleaders,wemustintervene,evenattheriskofbeingdrawnintothecurrentdebate,becausewehaveahigherandgreaterobligationtoourpatients.Wewanttomakeitcleartoourpatientsandthepublicthatcaregiverscanandmustadvocatewithouthesitation.Today,wearestatingfortherecord,aspertheAlbertaHealthServicesMedicalStaffBylaws&Rules,developedbyphysiciansandpractitionersforphysiciansandpractitioners,thatmedicalstaffandAHSsharejointresponsibilityandaccountabilityfortheprovisionofhealthservicestoAlbertans.Furthermore,theAHSMedicalStaffBylaws&RulesdescribethebehaviourandprofessionalismexpectedofindividualmedicalstaffmembersandAHSleaders.Includedisanexplicitstatementconfirmingtherightandresponsibilityofmedicalstaffmemberstoadvocatefortheirpatients.TheBylaws&RulesalsoensureasystemofprotectionthataffordsdueprocessandproceduralsafeguardsforphysicianswithrespecttotheiractionsandinteractionswithAHS.Inaddition,theBylaws&Rulesprovidemultipleavenuesandmechanismsforphysicians,andmedicalstaff,todiscussandreportpatientcareissues,andtoparticipateproactivelywithAHSinimprovingthehealthcaresystem.Thesewordsrepresentmorethanbylawsinandofthemselves.Theyarefoundedonasetofprinciples,andAlbertaHealthServiceswillnotallowtheseprinciplestobeundermined.TheseprinciplesasdefinedintheAHSCodeofConductareintendedtoguideallactionsandinteractions,andunderpinallAHSbylaws,policies,procedures,standards,guidelines,

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regulationsanddirectivesthatmustbefollowedbyAHSandthosewhoprovideservicesonbehalfofAHS.Wemustworkinthebestinterestsofpatientsandclients,wemustexerciseourbestjudgement,wemustraiseourhandsifweseesomethingwethinkisnotbestforourpatientsorourorganization,andwemusthavethecouragetostandupforwhatisright.TheAHSCodeofConductdoesnotrestrictaphysicianorotherpractitionertospeakout,quitetheopposite.Inessence,wearerequiredtobringourconcernsforward;wearenotmerelygivenpermissiontodoso.TheCodesetsoutanumberofoptionsforraisingissuesincludingspeakingtoamanageroraphysicianleader,speakingtotheEthicsandComplianceOfficerorbycontactingtheExternalConfidentialReportingandDisclosureService.Today,wearespeakingpersonallyasphysicians,andmakingacommitmentasleaders,thatwesupportourphysiciancolleaguesinupholdingtheirdutyandresponsibilitytoadvocatefortheirpatients.Thisisacommitmentthatgoesbeyondanypolicyandtotheheartoftheoathmadebyallofus.Now,andaswemoveforwardintheweeksandmonthsahead,wehaveanopportunitytodefinethefutureandtodevelopapartnershipthatultimatelybenefitsourindividualpatients,andthehealthsystemasawhole.Sincerely,Dr.ChrisEagle,ActingCEO&President,AlbertaHealthServicesDr.DavidMegran,EVPandActingExecutiveLeadforQualityandServiceImprovementDr.FrancoisBelanger,ActingEVPandChiefMedicalOfficer