FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2001
Casselman to Clement: Tell College of
Respiratory Therapists to back down
TORONTO - The Ontario Public Service
Employees Union (OPSEU) is standing solidly behind Ontario’s respiratory
therapists who are ready to take drastic action to protest unreasonable
testing and an unfair quality assurance program imposed by the regulating
body for their profession.
The respiratory therapists have threatened
a mass resignation from the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO)
because of the unfair quality assurance program the college has imposed.
The date of this action, originally planned for Sept. 17, was delayed to
Oct. 3, to give mediation a chance. The mediation failed because the CRTO
refused to back down.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman wrote today
to Minister of Health Tony Clement to support Ontario’s respiratory
therapists against the CRTO. OPSEU represents hundreds of respiratory
therapists in hospitals across Ontario. These health professionals help
people with a variety of breathing, heart and other problems, including
patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis.
The respiratory therapists say the college’s
quality assurance program is too theory-based and therefore irrelevant to
the practice of their profession. They also object to being charged up to
$1,600 for these evaluations.
Clement has been monitoring this dispute,
but now he must do more, says Casselman. “I am asking you once again, to
order the college to set aside its unfair testing program until your
review determines whether it is appropriate. You should also require that
the college stop its punitive on-site reviews and charging of outrageous
fees for these reviews,” she wrote.
“Without these measures, these
professionals will be forced to do whatever they have to do to protect
themselves from these extreme actions of their college. Your action is
needed to protect the interests of both patients and care providers. I
urge you to act quickly”.
-30-
For further information:
Linda O'Regan, Respiratory Therapist and Unit Steward at the Ottawa
Hospital: (w) (613) 737-8091; (h) (613) 722-4383.
David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 x 314
