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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSE 8 SOUGHT ΤΟ FORMALISE THIS WORKING ARRANGEMENT BY PROVIDING THAT A CODE PREPARED OR REVISED BY A BOARD SHALL NOT COME INTO OPERATION UNTIL AFTER THE EXPIRY OF A SPECIFIED PERIOD. MR SHIPMAN SAID.
"THIS HELPS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITE TIMEFRAME FOR ALL CONCERNED PARTIES TO DISCHARGE THEIR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
"IN THE MOST UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THE COUNCIL AND A PARTICULAR BOARD COULD NOT REACH A CONSENSUS ON THE CONTENT OF THE CODE. OR THAT THE CODE WERE TO CONTAIN SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OR EXCLUDE BOME ESSENTIAL FEATURES AND THUS BE AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST. THEN THIS SPECIFIRD PERIOD OF TIME WOULD ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATION ΤΟ CONSIDER WHETHER REMEDIAL MEASURES WERE JUSTIFIED." HE SAID.
ON THE POINT OF A DOCTOR'S REFERRAL. MR SHIPMAN SAID THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS HAD GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT A DOCTOR'S REFERRAL IN THE PRACTICE OF SUPPLEMENTARY PROFESSIONS WAS UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES CONSIDERED AN APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PATIENT. THOUGH IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT APPLY IN THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY.
"ACCORDINGLY. THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS. MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS AND RADIOGRAPHERS WILL CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT OF REFERRAL FROM A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND. IN SOME CASES. A REGISTERED DENTAL PRACTITIONER.
"HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL AND ALL THE BOARDS WERE OPPOSED то THE PROPOSAL OF PUTTING DOCTOR'S REFERRAL IN THE LEGISLATION," HE SAID.
MR SHIPMAN SAID THE RATIONALE FOR THIS WAS THAT REFERRAL AMONG MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH CARE TEAM WAS ESSENTIALLY A PROFESSIONAL MATTER AND SHOULD BEST BE PROVIDED FOR IN THE CODE OF PRACTICE DRAWN UP BY EACH PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR REGULATING THE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS OF THAT PROFESSION.
"THIS ARRANGEMENT ALSO OFFERS THE FLEXIBILITY TO REQUIREMENT ON REFERRAL TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH PROFESSION.
"I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARDS SHOULD BE ENTRUSTED RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE MEMBERS OF THEIR PROFESSION AND WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC IN MIND." HE SAID.
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ON THE QUESTION OF EXEMPTION OF DOCTORS FROM SECTION 21(1) OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE, MR SHIPMAN SAID THE REGULATIONS FOR THE VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS AS PRESENTLY DRAFTED WOULD EXEMPT DOCTORS WHILE PRACTISING MEDICINE. DENTISTS WHILE PRACTISING DENTISTRY AND CERTAIN OTHER CATEGORIES OF PROFESSIONS FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO REGISTER.
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HE SAID THESE EXEMPTIONS WERE NECESSARY GIVEN THE INEVITABLE OVERLAP IN THE PRACTICE OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS, AND THAT EXEMPTIONS ALSO MADE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER LAWS.
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