Health Professions Council


SAFE CHOICES:
A New Model for Regulating
Health Professions in
British Columbia


Under the Health Professions Act, the Health Professions Council is a six-person advisory body appointed by the Government of British Columbia to make recommendations to the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors about the regulation of health professions.

Part I: Scope of Practice Review

This report is the result of the Health Professions Council's review of the scope of practice of 15 recognized health professions pursuant to the Terms of Reference from the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors.

Mr. Epstein did not participate in the review of optometry. Another member, Brenda McBain, served on the scope panel for that review, chaired by Dr. Kazanjian.

Part II: Legislative Review

This report is the result of the Health Professions Council's legislative review of ten health professions pursuant to the Terms of Reference from the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors. Under the Health Professions Act the Health Professions Council is a six-person advisory body appointed by the government of British Columbia to make recommendations to the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors about the regulation of health professions. Irvine E. Epstein, Q.C., the Chair of the Health Professions Council, is primarily responsible for the legislative review. The report has been circulated within the Health Professions Council for review and comment.

In the legislative review the Health Professions Council examined two issues:

(1) whether designation of the professions of

  • chiropractic;
  • dentistry;
  • emergency medical assistance;
  • medicine;
  • naturopathy;
  • nursing,registered;
  • nursing, registered psychiatric;
  • optometry;
  • podiatry; and
  • psychology

    under the Health Professions Act would be in the public interest or whether there are unique features of the health professions, or other relevant factors, that justify a continuing need for a separate statute; and

(2) what amendments, if any, are required to the current statute, rules, regulations and bylaws for each of the professions to provide adequately for the regulation of the profession in the public interest and to ensure that the current statute contains the core principles of professional regulation reflected in the Health Professions Act and discussed in Schedule B to the Terms of Reference.

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