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Proposed amendments: Sections 5-12 and 5-23

On July 4, 2025, the Board of the ������ (CPSBC) approved proposed amendments to the Bylaws under the Health Professions Act, RSBC 1996, c. 183 (HPA) specifically, related to anesthesiologists practising in non-hospital medical and surgical facilities.

The current Bylaws provide that a registrant may provide anesthesiology services in facilities approved by the ������ of Dental Surgeons of BC or by CPSBC (for podiatric purposes) if they are qualified to do so or have been certified by the Royal ������ of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) to practise anesthesiology or have active hospital privileges and provide anesthesiology services in a hospital (section 5-12). The Bylaws go on to define an “anesthesiologist” as a registrant who is certified by the RCPSC in anesthesiology (section 5-23).

Under the current registration Bylaws, a registrant is authorized to practice independently in the specialty of anesthesiology if they have obtained one of the following: RCPSC certification, non-RCPSC certification (e.g. American Board of Anesthesiology), Certificate of Added Competence (CAC) in Family Practice Anesthesia (FPA) from the ������ of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or have completed a registration summative assessment for the practice of anesthesiology to the satisfaction of the registration committee. The current definition of “anesthesiologist” referenced above restricts a group of registrants (specifically, those who have obtained non-RCPSC certification or CAC in FPA from the CFPC or have completed a registration summative assessment) from providing anesthesiology services to patients undergoing elective surgery and procedures in non-hospital medical and surgical facilities. This restriction also diverts resources away from hospital-based surgical services where the most complex patient care is provided.

CPSBC is proposing that the Bylaws be amended to expand the definition of “anesthesiologist” to align with the registration and licensure requirements. This would allow additional physicians to provide anesthesiology services in non-hospital medical and surgical facilities including, those who have obtained non-RCPSC certification, hold the CAC in FPA from the CFPC, or have completed a registration summative assessment.

Medical directors will still maintain responsibility for the selection, appointment, and reappointment of all medical staff who provide patient care in non-hospital medical and surgical facilities. Medical directors must also ensure that the physicians providing patient care are appropriately licensed, credentialled and privileged to provide anesthesiology services in their relevant facilities and that only authorized procedures are being performed and within the scope of their practice.

• Resolution 25-512
• Sections 5-12 and 5-23 (redline)
• Sections 5-12 and 5-23 (clean)