The faces of cuts in Ontario: 'The ministry spit on my integrity'

Angered over how they’re being treated by Ontario’s health ministry—and by the loss of income due to fee cuts—many Ontario doctors are choosing to close clinics and, in some cases, leave the health system altogether.Dr. Gerry Goldlist, ophthalmologist, North York, Ont.Last day: June 1, 2016Patients: 4,000When Dr. Gerry Goldlist turned 65 a few years ago, many patients asked him how long he intended to practise. "I'd say, 'Forever, I love my job,' " recalled the ophthalmologist.But an annus horribilis changed all that. In addition to the deaths of both his daughter and father in 2015, he has had enough of government fee cuts and the caustic remarks of provincial health officials."The ministry of health of Ontario spit on my integrity," said Dr. Goldlist, who decided last month to close his practice on June 1, 2016. He spent a week's holiday in late October cancelling bookings for next year and writing referrals for his roughly 4,000 patients. "I absolutely don't want to go back to work, and I wouldn't even if they tripled my pay."Dr. Goldlist's anger has been brewing since 2012, when the Ontario government first made unilateral cuts in fees to several specialties with high-overhead clinics after negotiations stalled with the Ontario Medical Association. "They just went right into the fee schedules and made changes," he said. "That was the beginning of my fury."He notably stopped doing optical coherence tomography because the two-thirds cut in fees for the non-invasive imaging test made it a money-losing activity. He accused then Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews of lying after she quoted what Dr. Goldlist said were both fictitious and wrongful guidelines she used to justify cuts in the number of allowed annual tests for glaucoma and macular degeneration.In blogs and on Twitter, Dr. Goldlist blasted the OMA, saying the association is an accomplice in the fee cuts.The additional cuts imposed this year, together with the spectre of a clawback if and when doctors' fees surpass the government's undisclosed global cap, finally convinced Dr. Goldlist it was time to call it a day. "My focus now is on winding things up and helping my patients find other doctors," he said. "It's called integrity, and it makes me feel good."See related articles:The faces of cuts in Ontario: When your fee codes are cut 20% overnightThe faces of cuts in Ontario: 'It's incredibly frustrating'The faces of cuts in Ontario: 'They have no respect for doctors'

The faces of cuts in Ontario: 'The ministry spit on my integrity'

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