[nfbwatlk] eye exams for doctors

[Jedi]

That's definitely a good idea. One would hope that physicians with poor 
eyesight would have the common sense to have someone with better sight 
read x-rays if the physicians couldn't read them themselves in some way.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> The underlying assumption that one must see and hear well in order to be a
> physician is certainly troubling.  It might be worth putting ourselves on
> record stating the obvious fact that competent blind physicians have been
> around for more than a century.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Frederick Driver
> Sent: March 29, 2012 2:30 AM
> To: list at cfb.ca; nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] eye exams for doctors

> I wonder if this policy will improperly impact qualified blind MD's.

> Naturally, if, and that's a big if, which I am not qualified to answer, but
> if there exists no non-visual method for properly reading x-rays, then those
> charged with reading x-rays must have sufficient visual acuity to do so.

> But this policy seems to be painting a very specific situation with a very
> broad brush.

> Because physicians who read mammography x-rays need adequate vision, then
> we're going to make all physicians pass an eye exam?  That doesn't compute.
> Where would that leave Dr. Stracks.  And where would that have left Dr.
> Bolotin?

> Rick

> [article]

> Elderly Quebec doctors may face mandatory eye exams

> 109 misread breast cancer screenings at the centre of the consideration

>     By Aaron Derfel, Postmedia News March 28, 2012

> Quebec's College of Physicians is considering making eye exams mandatory for
> physicians who are at least 70 years old following its report that a Laval,
> Que., radiologist missed breast cancer in 109 patients during mammography
> screening, the Montreal Gazette has learned.

>    MONTREAL - Quebec's College of Physicians is considering making eye
>    exams mandatory for physicians who are at least 70 years old following
>    its report that a Laval, Que., radiologist missed breast cancer in 109
>    patients during mammography screening, the Montreal Gazette has
>    learned.

>    "We are evaluating the possibility of having older physicians do eye
>    exams," Dr. Charles Bernard said. "And it's not just for eyesight.
>    It's for hearing, too. Doctors have to hear well, too."

>    On Tuesday, the college revealed that 77-year-old Dr. Raymond
>    Bergeron, now retired, had misread mammography X-rays at a rate that
>    is more than five times the acceptable provincial norm.

>    The college did not specifically address whether poor eyesight might
>    have played a role in Bergeron's failure to detect cancer tumours.

> In its 79-page report, however, the college recommends the
>    "development of an evaluation mechanism for the physical and cognitive
>    capabilities" of doctors "of a certain age."

>    In an interview, Bernard said that recommendation could mean periodic
>    eye examinations for older physicians who admit to problems with their
>    vision in a detailed questionnaire they must fill out every two years.

>    In fact, Bernard launched such a questionnaire a year ago amid
>    criticism by some physicians that the college was acting in an ageist
>    manner. He denied that and said he is only seeking to uphold high
>    standards for physicians while protecting the public.

>    The questionnaire does not require mandatory eye exams, and that's
>    something that could be added, he said.

>    The college has also implemented a system of inspecting the practice
>    of physicians with at least 35 years experience. But those inspections
>    take place once every five years for each physician in that category.

>    Bernard noted more than 1,000 physicians in Quebec are at least 70
>    years old. That's about 6.7 per cent of a total physician workforce of
>    more than 17,000. By comparison, 6.2 per cent of doctors in Ontario
>    are at least 70, and nationally, it's 5.4 per cent.

>    The Association des radiologistes du Quebec says about 10 per cent of
>    its members are at least 70.

>    Dr. Frederic Desjardins, president of the association, declined to
>    comment on the college's recommendation.

>    However, at a news conference Tuesday following the release of the
>    college's report, Desjardins expressed concern about the tendency of
>    some older doctors to work alone. He suggested that older radiologists
>    should practise as part of a team.

>    He emphasized the difficulty in reading X-rays, agreeing that it's
>    like picking out snowflake in a snowstorm, because some breast tumours
>    can be as small as three millimetres.

> Bernard noted that airline pilots must undergo periodic eye exams. And
>    the Societe de l'assurance automobile du Quebec requires drivers who
>    are at least 75 years old to undergo eye exams.

>    Bernard said he wasn't aware of all of the specifics of the
>    radiologist who was investigated by the college.

>    "I don't know about his eyesight, but we do know is that he was
>    overloaded. He read a lot of X-rays in a year."

>    The Gazette attempted to contact Bergeron by phone at his home.
>    Bergeron's wife answered, but said her husband did not want to speak
>    to reporters.

>    "How do you think he feels?" she said. "He had been a doctor for 50
>    years, and did a lot of good things during that time."

>    The college has also made other recommendations to improve the
>    accuracy of mammography screening, including requiring that all radiology
> clinics switch from film to digital X-rays, as well as the
>    double reading of X-rays in certain cases.

>    Montreal Gazette

> SOURCE:
> http://www.vancouversun.com/Elderly+Quebec+doctors+face+mandatory+exams/6376
> 298/story.html



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