Who represents Opticians?

**putmeincoach!** · 10-15-2010, 11:54 AM

If an Optician has a dispute with a college that he/she is a member of, how does he/she resolve a dispute? Will it always be the Optician vs. a college/association? If the colleges represent the public and the public's best interest, who represents Opticians in Ontario and other provinces against colleges and associations?

**optical maven** · 10-15-2010, 12:29 PM

you need a lawyer

**putmeincoach!** · 10-15-2010, 01:47 PM

Really?!? Is this the case for all health professionals in Canada? Why is there no union, board or association for health professionals representing health professionals? Has this ever been attempted? And if so, why did it fail?

**optical maven** · 10-15-2010, 02:03 PM

All Ontario colleges (physicians, dentists, nurses, optometrists, opticians) have a mandate to protect the public. They enforce their respective health care legislation. If a complaint is lodged against a health care professional via their college, the respective college investigates. The associations for each profession are the "union" for its members. Some colleges (like physicians) offer legal services for their members. Some (like optometry) do not. There is no other body that offers legal services for all health care professionals. So if a complaint is lodged against you as an optician by a client, check with your association, and then get a lawyer if you think the case is onerous enough to justify the expense.

**putmeincoach!** · 10-15-2010, 02:39 PM

Your explanation outlines an extreme situation. My focus is much smaller based. Like any organization (i.e. government), shouldn't there be an ethics committee, an ombudsman, etc, in place to handle minor disputes against a college/association?

**putmeincoach!** · 10-15-2010, 02:45 PM

If not, why not have two separate bodies, one that represents the public and one that represents the professional?

**optical maven** · 10-18-2010, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by putmeincoach!

If not, why not have two separate bodies, one that represents the public and one that represents the professional?

There already are: your college and your association

**Refractingoptician.com** · 10-19-2010, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by putmeincoach!

Your explanation outlines an extreme situation. My focus is much smaller based. Like any organization (i.e. government), shouldn't there be an ethics committee, an ombudsman, etc, in place to handle minor disputes against a college/association?

An ethics committee would only be as good as the people in charge . To be of value it would have to be totally independant. Now what act would give an ethics committee any power ? That's why there is not one. It would be useless.

All the rules and regulations and governance in the world will not change the ethics of people.

Minor or major , you still would need a lawyer.