This year the College brings back a new and improved newsletter “Under the Scope”. This newsletter will distribute information about MLT standards, expectations and legislation through publications that aim to inform College members, employers and the general public. The newsletter will be distributed via email and published on our website. During the pandemic, NSCMLT immediately stepped in using their emergency plan and supported the laboratory services, the public and health sector by providing emergency MLT licenses and a call out for recently retired MLTs to help if required. This allowed the laboratories to ensure that they would be able to perform the number of testing as required. In the coming months, laboratory services will undoubtedly continue to experience high testing volumes and the need to adapt to challenges. NSCMLT will continue to provide necessary guidance and resources. We know the public can count on MLTs to use the best available evidence to keep patients safe. Thank you to all our members for stepping up, adapting and taking on new roles to ensure the turn around time for testing was and is at it’s best. The public’s expectations of us is high and you have demonstrated that MLTs are up for the challenge. NSCMLT is here to protect the public by promoting safe standards for MLTs. Nicole Watson NSCMLT Chair |
Reviewed and approved the 2021 operating budget and 2019 financial statement. Approved Policies: REGISTRATION Related | REG.001 Initial Registration Policy | REG.002 Annual License Renewal Policy | REG.003 English Language Proficiency | REG.003.F1 Employer Confirmation of English language proficiency ( Form) | REG.003.F2 Language Proficiency Assessment For MLT Students. (Form) | REG.004 Application Denial Policy | REG.005 Initial Registration Appeal Policy | REG.006 Reinstatement -Lapsed License | REG.007 Emergency Provisional license | REG.008 Labour Mobility | REG.009 License Status Change | REG.010 Provisional License - Internationally Educated MLT | REG.011 Provisional License - New Grad | REG.012 Guidelines for the Direct Supervision of MLTs | REG.012.F1 Acknowledgement and Undertaking of Supervision (Form) | REG.013 Assessment of Good Character for Registration and Licensing | REG.014 License Suspension | REG.015 License Reinstatement after Suspension | REG.016 Appeal of Disciplinary Decision Policy | REG.017 Access to application and Related Documents by Applicant | REG.018 Alternative Document Acceptance for Registration | REG.022 Professional Liability Insurance | REG.023 Qualifying Examinations | PS.001 Position Statement - Expectations of Safe Practice | PS.002 Position Statement - Supervision and Control | ADMINISTRATION Related | ADM.001 Emergency Plan | ADM.002 Confidentiality policy | ADM.002.F1 Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement (Form) | ADM.003 Conflict of Interest | ADM.004 Privacy Policy | BOARD Related | BRD.002 Board Member Disciplinary Procedure | BRD.F2 Board Contact Information Form |
Discussed license fee structure Implemented an English Language Proficiency policy Implemented an Emergency License policy Discussed and approved changes and enhancements to continuing competencies (TeKnowledge.ns) Approved and published Independent Phlebotomy Review paper (on our website) Retired code of conduct Retired Awards Approved at the annual meeting that the annual meeting will now take place in the Spring. This results in no election for Board members in 2021. The current Board members will remain until the Spring of 2022. Approved - Starting January 2021 the NSCMLT Board meetings will welcome the public and its members to attend online. All attendees will be subject to procedures established by the Board.
2021-2022 NSCMLT BOARD Meet your 2021 Board Nicole Watson Executive Chair
Natasha Atkinson Executive Vice Chair
Phillip Veinotte Executive Treasurer and Public RepresentativeDarlene Gilby Executive SecretaryMargaret Martin Board MemberZabrina Isles Board Member
Marian Mekhael Board MemberMelinda Daye Public Representative
Doreen Campbell Public Representative |
FEATURE ARTICLE Off Duty Conduct
by Rebecca Durcan
May 26, 2020 It is likely that there is variability as to when off-duty conduct can be the subject of discipline. For example, the degree of circumspection expected of teachers and police officers may be higher than for some other professions where practitioners are not as widely seen as esteemed role models. This issue came up in the case of Mulligan v Ontario Civilian Police Commission, 2020 ONSC 2030, http://canlii.ca/t/j6fm8. In that case: While off duty, Sergeant Mulligan attended and spoke at a conference where the theme was cannabis legalisation. The conference took place in September 2015, while the decriminalization of marijuana was under discussion, but had not yet been passed into law. In his remarks at the conference, where Sergeant Mulligan was identified as a twenty-nine-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police, Sergeant Mulligan made it clear that he was in favour of the legalisation of marijuana, but that he was not representing the views of his employer. The problem was that Sergeant Mulligan had been ordered not to attend or speak at the conference. He was disciplined on two charges. On one charge, for bringing the force into disrepute, he was found not guilty because at the time he spoke there was widespread public support for decriminalizing the possession of cannabis and his views would not be viewed as shocking. On judicial review of the finding of disregarding an order, the Court held that this finding should also be set aside because the tribunal had failed to consider a provision in the legislation that was on point and because the tribunal had found that the audience would not perceive his remarks as meaning he would refuse to enforce the law. The significance of the case is that it reinforces the principle that all of the circumstances must be taken into account when determining whether off duty conduct is worthy of discipline. https://www.sml-law.com/blog-regulation-pro/past-issues/2020-2/
| | FEATURE ARTICLE Use of the Title MLT when not registered to practise  by Julie Maciura
April 28, 2020
In College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia v Ezzati, 2020 BCSC 339, http://canlii.ca/t/j5s7k the Court had to decide what sentence to impose on an unregistered person who held themselves out as able to practise medicine and used protected titles such as “physician” and “Doctor”. The Court identified the following factors as relevant to that decision: - the gravity of the offence (in this case disregarding a court order);
- the need to deter the offender;
- the past record and character of the offender (e.g., is this a first finding);
- the need to protect the public from the offender’s conduct;
- the ability of the offender to pay a fine; and
- the “extent to which the breach was flagrant and wilful and intended to defy the court’s authority”.
In applying those considerations to the conduct of this individual, the Court imposed a fine of $5,000. https://www.sml-law.com/blog-regulation-pro/past-issues/2020-2/
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The 2021 license renewal year has been completed. Please ensure your information is current and reflects your current employer and practice area. Additional resources for TeKnowledge.ns can be found on our website https://nscmlt.org/professional-development/continuing-competencies/teknowledge-ns A few resources you may tap into for continuing education/professional development: CSMLS, vendor sites, ASCLS, P.A.C.E., YOUTUBE. Ensure you keep or can access completion documents and website references for entry on your Teknowledge.ns form. New to the Teknowledge.ns application - Credits will now be automatically calculated based on the hours entered. The Help button on each section provides information about what can and cannot be claimed and the hours to enter. GOOD TO KNOW: The ?TECH SUPPORT link that appears at the top of your screen on the website is for IT support and IT issues only, such as password not working. If you have a question regarding TeKnowledge.ns credits or your application etc please contact info@nscmlt.org. NSCMLT Role: NSCMLT created and published a chart to help you understand the difference in the roles of NSCMLT, CSMLS, the Union and the MLT. Please check it out https://nscmlt.org/professional-development/nscmlt-csmls-roles |
NSCMLT Online Educational Event NSCMLT offered its members online education opportunities in the Fall of 2020. Taking Charge and Speaking Up! Appropriate Workplace Behaviour (Barefoot Facilitation Inc.) This educational event took place in November and was well received. Quotes from attendees: "Providing communication tools. Having Gerard act out behaviours. Gerard kept the presentation interesting and engaging" "Lots of excellent info-very useful."
Stay tuned for more online education opportunities in 2021 to earnTeKnowledge.ns credits!
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| The NSCMLT 2020 ANNUAL MEETING The 2020 Annual Meeting was held online and many members attended. There was a great amount of positive feedback of being able to attend from anywhere in the province. This is being considered for the future. Attending the annual meeting also allows you to earn TeKnowledge.ns credits. We are working on correcting the audio issues that occurred for the next meeting.
The NSCMLT 2021 BOARD MEETING Our first 2021 Board meeting will take place on January 19 2021 at 6pm online. NSCMLT Board now welcomes the public and its members to attend the meeting as a spectators. If you would like to join our meeting as a spectator please send an email to info@nscmlt.org no later than 5 days before the meeting.
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