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Doctors R 1P.R ýE S À Vol. 12, No. 15 Wednesday, April 14, 1982 20 Pages The 130 members of the local branch of the Ontario Medical Asso- ciation will be off the job tomorrow as part of an organized provincial ef- fort- to back doctors' salary demands. According ýto Dr. Donald Shepley, the local representative of the O.MA., the doctors voted by an overwhelm- ing margin last Wednes- day to back the job ac- tions proposed by the group. By a vote of 126 to 1 (with three abstentions) the doctors voted to en- ter "phase one" of the job action. This means doctors will not be participating in hospital committees, they will not fill out the "face sheet" of statis- tics upon discharge, the withdrawal of free ser- vices (telephone advice, prescription renewal by phone etc.), 'and they will no longer allow for the substitution of drugs. However, Shepley stresses that these ac- tions will in no way compromise the health of the patient. nfact,4,bepatients will benefit.in ways: Patients will now have to come into the of- fice to .renew prescrip- tions.' This means, the physician will be able to examine the patient. Local doctors also voted by a margin of 118 to 9 (with three absten- sions) to enter "phase . two" of the job action plan. This is the "closing of offices and cancelling of elective surgery," Shep- ley said. However, "full emer- gency services" will be provided. "Most elective material has been can- celled," Shepley said. He also disputes the government's claim that their latest offer amounts to a 34 per cent salary increase over the -life of a three year- agreement bringing their average salary to $112,000. According to Shepley, the offer amounts to 10 points less than that. "Indeed, it's only 24 per cent." He also said that the government gives "a falsely high average" of MD's salaries. According to the 0:M.A., the average On- tario physician in general practise earns $52,000 a year while specialists earn $72,000 for a combined average of $61,000. Shepley added that neither the 24 per cent or the 34 per cent figures will bring the salaries up to the government's $112,000. He also accused the government of deleting the bottom 30 per cent of doctors earnings -to arrive at the figure, using on the top two- thirds. Doctors, Shepley maintained, practising in Ontario are the third lowest paid in Canada with only those. in Prin- ce Edward Island and New Brunswick earning less. He also pointed out that MPP's have voted themselves 48 per cent pay increases in the last 18 months. "We are third from the bottoim" amongst Canadian doctors. Representatives of the O.M.A. and the pro- vincial government are due to return to the bar- gaining table tomorrow. Latest Whitby Theatre Company Production eaters" The look of shock and dismay would be on almost everyone's face if they intruded into a clandestine romantic moment between one's parents. In fact, "Cheaters," the latest production of the Whitby Theatre Company is about nothing else but such situations. Michelle (the girl in the door, played by Maureen Williamson) and Allan (her fiance, played by Rick Kerr) walk in on her father Sam (Joe Gonyea) and his mother Grace (Margery Bird, on the floor) just at the wrong time. For more about this delightful sexual farce, see today's Eritertainment page. -Free Press Staff Photo Body that of WPH patient A decision has yet to be made as to whether or not an inquest will be held into the death of Margaret Daniel whose body was found on the beach at the Lynde Shores Conservation Area on April 4. The 20-year-old woman disappeared from the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital on March 15. Despite extensive ground, air and water searches, police and hospital authorities had been unable to locate her. Her body was found just west of the hospital by a person walking along the beach. Coroner Dr. Denis Gabrielle said last week that drowning was the cause of death. Officials believe that the body was washed ashore during that weekend's rough weather after being carried offshore. In the Ontario Legislature last week, NDP health critic Ross McClellan said that there have been four deaths throughoût the provin- ce's mental health system in the last 18 mon- ths and asked that an inquiry be held into conditions at psychiatric hospitals. However, thé provincial secretary for social development, Margaret Birch, rejected the suggestion. off the job tomorrow