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Cannabis, marijuana, what do we know?
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2016-10-16 Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver, BC
Cannabis is a plant that has been part of human history for thousands of years and on every continent. The uses of cannabis are far beyond just medical and recreational use.
What do we really know about cannabis?
Is cannabis more than just good for medical and health use, is it also good for the economy and the environment?
Are medical errors the third leading cause of death or disability and what can we do to protect ourselves?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - March 4, 2018
The TEDx Stanley Park event at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver on Saturday March 3, 2018 was incredible with 13 (a bakers dozen) memorable and inspiring speakers and 4 brief, fun energerizer programs to keep the audience engaged. Two of the presentations addressed medical errors.
With cancer as the leading cause of death and heart disease as the second leading cause, medical errors are referred to by some as the third leading cause of death and disability.
Whether errors are third or not, it makes sense that anything that helps to reduce or prevent medical errors is worth pursuing. Every error that can be prevented has direct benefit to individuals and their families.
Requirements to be Deputy Registrar at College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSBC) – Is something different?
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Z. Essak, MD – Vancouver, BC – 2015 Apr 23
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is looking to hire a new Deputy Registrar with the deadline for applications of April 30, 2015 fast approaching.
Is there something different about the experience required in this job posting – “a career opportunity in medical regulation”?
The proven experience and qualifications all candidates should have begins with, "minimum 10 years of senior administrative experience in a complex health-related organization (e.g. regulator, health authority, association, etc.)"
Also the requirements, while including "medical degree preferred", are open to others with "master of business/health administration or law degree also accepted".
Is this a sign of changes or a shift underway at the College (CPSBC)?
CMAJ news: Alarm growing over limited access to BC PharmaNet data by scientists
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On Monday April 22, 2013 the CMAJ, Canadian Medical Association Journal, published news of the growing alarm over limited access to BC PharmaNet data by scientists hobbling drug-safety watchdogs.
Spanning eleven months, amid abrupt dismissals of staff and scientists, a cloud of wrongful dismissal claims and pending an investigation, the ministry has severely restricted access to data from its PharmaNet databases.
Dr. David Henry, chief executive officer of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Ontario, warns "The most comprehensive data in Canada has been denied to us," noting that the BC government has failed to respond to repeated inquiries from alarmed scientists across Canada. "We've not been given a way forward."
The PMA results are in but how much support is there really? - the Simi Sara Show, CKNW
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The results of the vote on the 2012 Physician Master Agreement (PMA) are in but how much support is there for it, really?
Listen to The Simi Sara Show July 25, 2012 broadcast on CKNW Radio and the Chorus network.
The show starts with Dr Shelley Ross, BCMA President and host Michael Smyth on the Bill Good Show including an audio clip of Dr Roland Orfaly.
Then Simi Sara speaks with Dr Dennis Karpiak and Dr Zafar Essak.
Here it is.
Dr Eric Cadesky becomes new President-Elect Doctors Of BC
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - July 26, 2017.
Congratulations to Dr Eric Cadesky on winning the election for President-Elect of the Doctors Of BC, the BC Medical Association.
It has been an interesting campaign with opportunities to get to know both candidates, Dr Eric Cadesky and Dr Jean-Noel Mahy, through not only their websites but also meeting them in person at the debate and for everyone to see them on the YouTube live stream and recorded video of the debate.
Seeing both candidates making such efforts to promote thought and discussion about health care in BC it is disappointing that only 16 percent of doctor members even voted.
Will BC doctors do something before it's too late?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - September 9, 2017.
There are a lot of calamities in the world today grabbing our attention so why is this important now?
This directly affects our BC health care system, which has slipped from being one of the best in the world to below the top ten. You don't have to tell patients and families who need care, they already see the cracks and hurdles everyday as they wait and hope to get the care they need.
What is happening this week at the BC Medical Association, the Doctors of BC, is critical. They are a well-funded, important organization that negotiates on behalf of all doctors with the BC Government and co-managing public health care. This affects not only doctors but patients and everyone in BC. It cannot be ignored.
Doctors may have become apathetic and cynical with low professional satisfaction as they feel overworked and struggle trying to get people the care they need. However, now is a critical time for them to consider these important facts. If they don't act now things may get a lot worse.
BC Appeal Court to rule on Qualified Privilege
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Vancouver, BC – Z. Essak, March 5, 2014.
Next week on March 11th and 12th the BC Appeal Court in Vancouver will be hearing the matter in Wang v BC Medical Association and named Defendants.
Why might this Appeal Court hearing be important to people in all walks of life in BC especially those involved as board directors and members of any non-profit Society, Association, Health Authority, Union and even corporations?
When can members of a Board claim qualified privilege as a defense for what they do?
Qualified privilege is a special privilege for those in positions of authority or trust. When does qualified privilege apply and when are actions simply an abuse of privilege, position, or power?
Survey results: Why did more than 70% not bother to vote in 2016 Doctors of BC elections
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The results on the survey so far may come as a surprise.
Was it fair to ask these questions? Some comments have questioned this, but these are some of the questions that doctors have been asking each other in hallways, over coffee, and at meetings. So why not ask them in a survey?
The survey was not sponsored by anyone. All members of doclounge can use the survey tools to create a questionnaire and the survey was made public to allow the questions to be answered anonymously. The tools can be used for any kind of survey.
What are the results of the survey?
What are the fiduciary duties of directors of the BC Medical Association?
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Vancouver, BC - Z. Essak, April 22, 2014
The BC Medical Association (BCMA), now rebranding itself as the DoctorsOfBC, is a non-profit Society in BC. It is a voluntary professional association of physicians that purports to represent all BC physicians in negotiations regardless of whether or not physicians choose to be a member.
The 2014 BCMA elections are now underway. Which way are the winds blowing? Are they winds of change? Are they strong enough? Will we see openness, transparency and accountability emerge or continued substitution with opaque communications and marketing?
