If You Have a Problem with a Doctor: Difference between revisions
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If you have a complaint about your doctor, you have 4 options: | If you have a complaint about your doctor, you have 4 options: | ||
#Talk to the doctor about the problem to see if you can work it out. If talking doesn’t work, or if the problem is too serious, consider the next 3 options. | #'''Talk to the doctor''' about the problem to see if you can work it out. If talking doesn’t work, or if the problem is too serious, consider the next 3 options. | ||
#Complain to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Under the Health Professions Act, the College licenses all BC doctors, enforces standards for them, and handles complaints against them. Even if you complain to the College, you can still take the other actions described in items 3 and 4 below. In fact, if a doctor has harmed you and you want compensation, you have to sue (item 4) because the College cannot get money for you—only a court can do that. | #Complain to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Under the Health Professions Act, the College licenses all BC doctors, enforces standards for them, and handles complaints against them. Even if you complain to the College, you can still take the other actions described in items 3 and 4 below. In fact, if a doctor has harmed you and you want compensation, you have to sue (item 4) because the College cannot get money for you—only a court can do that. | ||
#Consult a lawyer or the police if you think the doctor has broken a criminal law. | #Consult a lawyer or the police if you think the doctor has broken a criminal law. | ||
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Most doctors will talk with a patient who has a problem about them. If you have a problem with your doctor that involves communication, conduct, or the treatment you received, discuss it first with your doctor. If you have a complaint about a doctor while you’re in the hospital, you can also go to the head of the division or the hospital’s medical director, who will follow the hospital’s complaints process. If talking doesn’t work, you have to consider the other 3 options listed above. | Most doctors will talk with a patient who has a problem about them. If you have a problem with your doctor that involves communication, conduct, or the treatment you received, discuss it first with your doctor. If you have a complaint about a doctor while you’re in the hospital, you can also go to the head of the division or the hospital’s medical director, who will follow the hospital’s complaints process. If talking doesn’t work, you have to consider the other 3 options listed above. | ||
Complain to the College | ==Complain to the College== | ||
There is no deadline to file a complaint, but it’s good to file as soon as you can. You can file most complaints in 2 ways (a different process for sexual misconduct complaints is explained in the next section): | |||
#Review this script and the College website material on filing a complaint at [http://www.cpsbc.ca www.cpsbc.ca]. Click on “For the Public”—“File a Complaint”. | |||
#Complete and submit a complaint form on the College website. Under “File a Complaint”, click on “General Process” and then on “Complaint Form”. Mail or fax it to the College. The College does not accept complaints by email or phone. | |||
#Send a complaint letter to the College with the following information: | |||
**your name, date of birth, address, and phone number so that the College can contact you. | |||
**the name and address of your doctor. | |||
**the facts of what happened to you. | |||
**your permission to send a copy of your complaint to the doctor for their response. | |||
Mail or fax your complaint form or letter to: | :Mail or fax your complaint form or letter to: | ||
Complaints Department | :Complaints Department | ||
:College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC | |||
:300 – 669 Howe Street | |||
:Vancouver BC V6C 0B4 | |||
Fax: 604.733.3503. | Fax: 604.733.3503. | ||
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For more information, call the College at 604.733.7758 in Vancouver and 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC. Or check its website at www.cpsbc.ca. | For more information, call the College at 604.733.7758 in Vancouver and 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC. Or check its website at www.cpsbc.ca. | ||
Sexual misconduct complaints | ==Sexual misconduct complaints== | ||
For complaints of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behaviour by a doctor, you can call the College to speak with an investigator. Its numbers are 604.733.7758 in Vancouver or 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC. The investigator will explain the process and help you with it. You can discuss your concerns, including whether to proceed. But if you choose not to proceed, the College may not be able to take action against the doctor. | |||
What does the College do when it receives a complaint? | What does the College do when it receives a complaint? | ||
