Thank you very much.
I won't take a lot of time, but the conclusions of the Ontario report were, at page 231, that dentists prescribe medication, particularly prescribe opioids, safely.
At page 214, the government's counsel reviews the professional misconduct regulation on prescribing, and says:
Dentists...have a detailed professional misconduct regulation. It includes “prescribing, dispensing or selling a drug for an improper purpose, or otherwise using improperly the authority to prescribe, dispense or sell drugs” as grounds for disciplinary action.
I would also urge the committee to look at pages 215, 216, 217, and 218 of the report. It outlines the education in the pharmacological area at the universities, and concludes:
Dental programs have extensive general pharmacology courses at levels comparable to medical students. All programs offer courses in general medicine relating to how common illnesses impact dental care.
It goes on to analyze what the programs are about and then it compliments the college for its ongoing education in drug education.
Finally, at page 218 of the report, it concludes that we are responsible as a regulatory body looking at the public interest in regulating the profession. There's a comment on online adverse drug interaction programs providing timely and reliable information on drugs, and the minister's counsel feels that this is a very important availability for each and every dentist at chair-side to avoid contraindicated medication prescriptions.
I will tell you, in conclusion, as the registrar, that we are very proud of the way the dentists in Ontario have used their prescription privileges. That's not to say that every dentist is perfect. That's why we have a regulatory body. But it's to say that, overwhelmingly, dentists are very responsible with the current knowledge and its use for prescription medication.
We don't rest on our laurels. I'll turn matters over to Dr. David Mock, former dean of the University of Toronto dental school, who's now on our council. He will tell you about some of the initiatives we are making collaboratively with our friends and colleagues at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, who are here, and others on a national and provincial basis.