The end of "refracting-MD's?"
For some time now, I've been aware the phenomenon of "refracting-MD's," physcians trained in areas outside ophthalmology but basically practicing some form of optometry, and I've wondered both here and in my mind how they are legally and ethically permitted to practice in this capacity.
At least in Ontario, the registration of each physician contains the "Dr. X may practise only in the areas of medicine in which Dr. X's educated and experienced" condition on their licence. Comprehensive eye care is typically an area that that physicians are not educated in unless they complete an ophthal residency. While physicians are usually thought of as having an unlimited medical licsence, there are legal, ethical and practical limits to what each doctor does in their practice.
Now, after a google search on the term "refracting-MD, I found this "refracting-MD" and this from the CPSO:
Quote:
Current Referral Details: Allegations of Dr. Franklin's professional misconduct and incompetence have
been referred to the Discipline Committee of the College. It is alleged that
Dr. Franklin failed to meet the standard of the profession and is incompetent
in his practice in performing eye examinations in the care of 28 patients.
Thoughts?
What does medicare's opinion matter.
Question: Just because Medicare doesn't compensate for this. Why should it no longer be included as part of a routine eye exam for non-medicare patients? After all it's why the patient came to see you.
Unless the patient has been informed of some potential danger, family history or such. He goes to see the eye doctor to have his eyeglass prescription checked, period. The fact that the eye doctor is smarter than this and checks for physiological conditions is a good thing but it's not what motivated the patient.
Chip:rolleyes: