I have noticed over the last month that the tone of conversations has changed and social critique has resurfaced. Individuals are rightly asking more questions. There is greater need in all aspects of life and public service for clarity and certainty.  There are more queries and complaints about the impact of decisions made in the… Read more »

The Ontario government has passed an emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act allowing the disclosure of COVID-19 status information by laboratories and medical officers of health to specified people including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. The government’s press release states that the purpose of the Order is to protect first responders,… Read more »

I just got an email today that read … This is an anonymous email, asked to be sent to you to inform you about the possibility of coming in to contact with a family member/colleague/neighbor who has contracted the COVID19 Virus in your office/area. A test at your nearest hospital will be done free of… Read more »

I am getting questions such as: “how do I talk to my board about the risks as we move to virtual care and staff working from home?” Interim v. Long-term You will definitely want to explain that we are in the early days of responding to the pandemic. Our solutions now are our interim solutions…. Read more »

The global pandemic COVID-19 has left us all feeling unsettled at best. Some of us have no work. Some of us have too much work. Regardless of what camp you find yourself in – I thought this might be a message worth sharing. I was reminded this morning that I cannot be all things to… Read more »

I was interviewed by my friend and coach Teresa Easler for her Truth in High Heels Podcast. In this episode we cover: Why I identify as an “entrepreneur” even more than as a “lawyer” How I chose to specialize in healthcare law Following my values through opportunities and tragedies What I did after I discovered… Read more »

This blog post is written by Maria McDonald of McDonald HR Law COVID-19 and the Primary Care Workplace Public Health Ontario Guidelines Primary healthcare employers have been receiving daily updates from Public Health Ontario regarding COVID-19 practice guidelines.These guidelines are intended to protect the safety of patients and employees. It is vitally important that primary… Read more »

The Public Hospitals Act deals with the relationship between hospitals and their Professional Staff members (physicians, dentists, midwives and some nurse practitioners). In a pandemic, pull out your Professional Staff By-laws and look for provisions dealing with temporary appointments to the Professional Staff to deal with an emergency. The concept of temporary appointments should be… Read more »

I am a calm and logical person. We are facing unprecedented impact in our world and that causes uncertainty and instability for everyone.  I have felt a bit unsettled for a few days now. When I feel like that, I need practical, concrete information to help me make informed choices.  If I am feeling like… Read more »

This is a summary of the new Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario‘s Decision 109, which deals with snooping. Six months after an employee left her employment at a family health clinic, a patient of the clinic complained she suspected the employee had looked at her patient’s record. That prompted the clinic to do an… Read more »