Medical tyros challenge CMA.

Younger members of the medical community are challenging the leadership of the Canadian Medical Association. Medical students and residents have raised questions about the policies of the CMA.

The Professional Association of Residents of BC announced its support for Dr. Jack Burak's candidacy as the Canadian Medical Association's 2007 President-Elect. He opposes the "official" nominee, Dr. Brian Day, an advocate for privatizing public health care services. "We believe that Dr. Burak represents the opinions of a majority of physicians across Canada, and will work with stakeholders to find creative methods of improving our publicly funded health care system," an association statement claims.

Medical students are challenging CMA leadership because of their support of proposals to allow private health insurance and private sector health services. Over the past three months more than 1,100 Canadian medical students (about 20% of the total) have signed an on line petition asking the CMA to support publicly funded and accessible medical services. The petition was organized by the Student Medical Reform Group, an organization affiliated with the Medical Reform Group, which is concerned with the social, economic and political factors influencing Canadian health care.

www.medicalreform.ca