N.L. doctors push back against change that would give government a say in licensing
Published Feb. 18, 2018 at 10:20 am
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Doctors in Nevada are pushing back against a proposal that would give the state’s health board more authority to grant or deny licenses to doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
The proposed changes have been criticized by the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the Nevada State Nurses Association, as well as by many members of the Nevada State Medical Association.
The proposal now goes to the Nevada Medical Association for consideration.
“That would only be an expansion of the agency,” said Dr. Richard Feller, president of the Nevada State Medical Association. “When it comes to licensing, the Nevada Medical Association has been a leader.”
“There’s very little evidence that medical licensing has any significant impact on patient care,” Feller added.
He also pointed to a recent survey showing that Nevada doctors provide the highest level of patient care in the nation, and that the state was second in the nation for high-grade primary care doctors.
The proposal would give the Board of Health the power to adopt a code of ethics and conduct, and to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery, hospital care, obstetrics and family practice.
In addition, it would allow the Board to “adopt or amend rules governing the practice of medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and other health profession programs and procedures,” according to a document describing the proposed changes. The rules could specify that doctors and nurses must be licensed in the state.
Physicians Oppose ‘Procedures Code’
Dr. Jeff Kibler, a neurosurgeon from Carson City, opposed the changes, saying that without a code of ethics, doctors would lose the ability to treat patients by following clinical protocol. That, said Kibler, could lead to patients not getting the best care possible.
“We would be losing some of the best neurosurgical care in this state,” said Dr. Peter Choy, a neurosurgeon from Reno. “We have the best people and the best