OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 15, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Common sense prescription The Ontario government this week has proposed legislation that will finally take a step toward removing some of the shackles that have been placed on health care professionals in this province. The scope of practice changes are part of a Liberal government initiative to ease long wait times in doctors' offices and hospitals and to improve patient access to health care, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Monday. It could also be looked at as introducing some common sense to the world of health care in Ontario. Surely a common, often-filled prescription should not require a visit to a doctor's office. As well, a radiation technologist -- who has likely had years of medical school training -- should, on the orders of a doctor, be qualified to administer a needle. Under the proposed changes, regulated health care professionals will get more power to do more for their patients. For example: · Physiotherapists will be able to order X-rays; · Dietitians could prick skin to check a patient's blood level for diabetes control; · Midwives could tell patients their diagnosis; · Pharmacists would be able to refill some prescriptions without first checking with a doctor; · Nurse practitioners could order scans such as MRIs, set a cast for a fracture or apply specific forms of energy such as diagnostic ultrasounds. While officials with the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario rightly argue the McGuinty government did not go far enough with its proposal -- at least when it comes to giving nurse practitioners (who have more education and training than registered nurses and greater prescribing power in other jurisdictions) -- this proposed legislation is a move in the right direction. These changes should prove to be a win-win situation for both patients and health care professionals in Ontario. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Police Day was frightening I attended the police day with my three-year-old son, who is a big fan of rescue heroes, and my fiveyear-old daughter and was quite upset by the tactical display shown in your cover photo, Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, May 13. In this enactment, the officers yelled and pointed guns pointed at the bad guy, which my children found quite scary. In the future, the police should decide what they are trying to achieve in this event. If they are targeting it at younger children by having bouncy tents, face painting, balloons and motorcycles to sit on, maybe they could learn something from the Fisher Price Rescue Heroes (fire fighters, police officers, etc.) who only battle natural disasters and help people. They could still have demonstrations on things like how the police dogs find lost people, or how they rescue people trapped in cars. If they want to continue to show violence in their displays, then they should advertise it is for age six and up. JULIE MAY Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. This week's poll This week's question is: Who do you believe? · Brian Mulroney · Karlheinz Schreiber · Neither To vote, visit oakvillebeaver.com Last week's poll: Are you concerned about getting the H1N1 flu virus? · Yes 48.94% · No 51.06% Total votes: 47 votes Rise up against power plant We, too, hope Oakville wakes up to the fact that 3,000 additional tons per year of additional pollution will be added to this area (one of the most polluted areas in Ontario) if the power plant goes in. We have to be as passionate as Mississauga about not wanting this. The future health of our families is at stake. Many of the particulates being released now are toxic and they will knowingly add to it? Unconscionable. Our real estate agent just lost a $1-million deal when the clients Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com See United page 8