Medical Laboratory Technologists Act Introduced

A new Medical Laboratory Technology Act was introduced in the House today by Health Minister Jamie Muir.

The act provides for self-regulation of the profession by the Nova Scotia Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists.

"This act will help ensure continuation of quality medical lab services in Nova Scotia while ensuring proper professional standards are in place," said the minister. "When self-regulation of a profession is in the public interest, government delegates authority to that profession to regulate its practice. That's what we are talking about here today."

Essentially, the act establishes a College of Medical Laboratory Technologists as a self-regulating body, providing for disciplinary measures and the setting of standards and continuing education requirements for members. The college will be governed by a 10-member board, seven of who will be elected by its membership and three public members appointed by government.

"The chief function of professional regulation is to protect the public by establishing and enforcing standards of practice," said Mr. Muir. "This bill would allow for that protection."

"Our society is very pleased that the government is bringing our licensing act forward in the legislature," said Gail Drisdelle, licensing committee chair for the Nova Scotia Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists. "We seek licensing to guarantee the highest quality in laboratory testing for Nova Scotians."

The proposed Medical Laboratory Technology Act in many ways mirrors the Medical Act, and represents another step in the Department of Health's process of making all health professional legislation more consistent.

"Consistency in health profession legislation means greater transparency and ease of understanding," said Mr. Muir. "It also means that professional groups can learn from the best practices of other groups, since they are guided by basically the same legislative provisions. It's all about government protecting the public."

Medical laboratory technologists provide a vital service to all Nova Scotians. They collect and analyse biological specimens and ensure accuracy of the results so that members of other health professions can use the results to diagnose and treat patients.

This profession is governed by legislation in five other provinces. There are about 800 medical laboratory technologists currently practising in Nova Scotia, forming one of the largest sectors of the provincial health care work force.

FOR BROADCAST COPY:

Nova Scotia Health Minister Jamie Muir introduced the

Medical Laboratory Technology Act today.

The act aims to establish a College of Medical Laboratory

Technologists as a self-regulating body.

The college will set standards for members, including

disciplinary measures and continuing education requirements.

Nova Scotia is the sixth province in Canada to introduce

legislation governing this profession.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Members of the Nova Scotia Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists, including president Shelia Stevens, will be in attendance at the House when the bill is introduced. Gail Drisdelle, chair of the licensing committee, will attend later in the evening.