Policing physician abuse in British Columbia: An analysis of current policies

Despite widespread public and government interest in medical fraud and overservicing in other industrialized countries, little interest in this issue has been generated within Canada. However, with a fee-for-service system of physician remuneration similar to those operating in other countries, it is clear that Canada's policies and practices also require analysis. In British Columbia at least, existing methods for detecting, investigating and punishing criminal doctors are cumbersome, secretive and ineffective. The failure of the medical profession to police itself indicates that policies and procedures should be operating separately from the professional medical organizations as the first step in eradicating abuse of the health system.