Quebec government ‘trying to pass their failings’ to physicians with new law: doctor

Dr. Trevor Hennessey, who recently resigned from the Outaouais Health Authority, says there are long-standing issues within Quebec’s health system.

A physician from the Outaouais region of Quebec is speaking out against the provincial government’s controversial new health care bill that changes the way doctors are compensated and lays out penalties for those that push back against its policies.

The law, called Bill 2, was passed by Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec last weekend. The bill was established with the goal of improving access to healthcare services in Quebec, but was immediately met with backlash from health care professionals in the province.

“The large issue is (that) the objectives that are being put in, a lot of which we, as physicians, try to meet on a daily basis, are essentially unattainable with the resources that are being provided by the government to achieve this,” Dr. Trevor Hennessey told CTV News channel on Friday.

A new mechanism under the bill links 10 per cent of a doctor’s pay to performance indicators, that would be paid to physicians and specialists upon meeting specific objectives to improve access to medical care. Conversely, their pay would be reduced if those objectives aren’t met.

“We just cannot meet these objectives,” said Hennessey, Chief of the Department of Anesthesiology for the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CSSSG). “The government is trying to pass their failings of supporting the healthcare system onto the shoulders of the physicians.”

Hennessey is one of three doctors from the Outaouais health authority who announced their resignation earlier this week, following the passing of Bill 2. He added that the new legislation does little to address the chronic lack of resources in Quebec’s healthcare system.

“Next week, I’ve got nine operating rooms of 12 closed due to lack of nurses,” said Hennessey.

“I’ve got surgeons and anesthetists, my colleagues, sitting at home without work. But in the law, if we do not operate on patients, the government will go to the public saying that we failed, and not only that, they will apply penalties on to us.”

When it comes to penalties, Bill 2 prohibits medical practitioners from engaging in any “concerted actions” to challenge current healthcare policies. Hennessey says that amounts to massive governmental overreach.

He said the legislation essentially gives the government power to discipline any group of two, or more doctors that doesn’t comply with the new regulations.

“Be aware also that as physicians, we are independent workers. We have no pension plans, no health insurance, no vacation pay, nothing. Our goal is (to care for) our patients, and the government is essentially trying to have full, utter and complete control.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Joshua Marano and CTV News Montreal’s Joe Lofaro.