Dr Kerryn Phelps, 'Today', Channel Nine - Yearly competence tests for doctors

LIEBMANN: Now, before we get onto this new HRT treatment, let's talk about a news story. What's the AMA's position on this proposal to have yearly competence tests for doctors?

PHELPS: Well, I think the notion of having doctors who are proven to be competent every year is almost a motherhood statement. I mean, of course you want your doctors to be competent. But what's being proposed here, I think, the position is that while there are some good elements to this proposal in some instances it's quite heavy-handed. For example, for doctors to have to report on an annual basis - whether they've had any traffic infringements - doesn't really ……, I would think, make for a good or a bad doctor. And I think we should really look at just how heavy-handed this legislation is. And the other thing is that specialists in every field: general practice, surgical specialties, all of the specialties, have to report to their colleges every year depending on what particular continuing medical education that they have done. And if they were relying on doctors to actually report their own continuing medical education activities - which is fine - but there are a couple of problems with that. One is that, for example, doctors in rural and remote locations can often find it very difficult to be able to access continuing medical education seminars, to get away from their practices, to attend conferences and workshops and things. So I think that they'll have to look at some sort of distance programs there. And specialists have to report to their colleges to maintain contact and maintain specialist recognition for their colleges every year.

LIEBMANN: But, in a broad sense, if it protects the public from doctors who are not of good character, you wouldn't have any problem with that?

PHELPS: I don't think anyone would have any problem with that. I think if it can be shown that it will have that effect, then I think it will have broad support.

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