Latest news with #IsabelleGaston
Montreal Gazette
27-05-2025
- Health
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec doctors warn Dubé's bill on remuneration could push physicians out, hurt patients
By Dr. Isabelle Gaston said she never used to think about retirement, but that has changed since the Quebec government unveiled its health-care bill that could tie doctors' salaries to their performance. The family physician became widely known after her two young children were killed by her ex-husband Guy Turcotte in 2009. After their deaths and enduring two trials, she remains active in her field and works in a CLSC. She said she is among thousands of doctors with a reduced workload who still want to take care of their patients 'despite their restrictions.' On paper, her schedule is part time, but her hours often exceed what is considered a full-time job in Quebec, she added. 'Sometimes we don't choose our hardships,' Gaston said at the province's legislature Tuesday. 'But when you have a heart, you say to yourself: I will take on less and I will slow down, but I will do it well.' Gaston was among health-care professionals and federations speaking before committee hearings into Bill 106, which proposes linking up to 25 per cent of a doctor's pay to various performance objectives in an effort to see them take on a greater number of patients. Her testimony came as the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec, which represents family doctors, tabled its brief against the proposed law. It charges the government 'is making a serious — and historic — error if it believes it can resolve the issue of access to health care by unilaterally imposing an authoritarian bill based on mistrust, coercion and punishment.' Health Minister Christian Dubé characterized Bill 106 as 'essential,' saying his goal is to ensure all Quebecers are cared for in a health-care setting by the summer of 2026. It was tabled in early May as contract negotiations were underway with two of the province's federations representing doctors. In his opening remarks Tuesday, Dubé said the idea is to encourage doctors 'not to work more, but to work differently.' But Dr. Benoît Heppell called on the government to provide more resources. He pointed to a lack of nurses, social workers and other health professionals on the front lines, saying he could provide 650 additional appointments each year. 'It falls on my shoulders,' he said, referring to when there aren't enough other professionals. Gaston also slammed the plan, saying it would be 'inhumane' if her colleagues face financial repercussions because she can't work more hours. She characterized any discourse implying doctors are 'lazy' as 'hurtful and enraging.' 'Frankly, I don't need this,' she said. Gaston noted 22 per cent of family doctors are 60 or older, and she is worried Bill 106 will leave vulnerable patients behind. 'Before, I never thought about my retirement,' she said. 'Now I find I think about it way too often for a doctor who is just 52 years old.' Legault vows not to back down The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec also came out swinging against the bill Tuesday. FMSQ president Vincent Oliva read a series of statements submitted by specialists, including one who said they were 'defeated' in the wake of the move. Before appearing at the National Assembly, the Collège des médecins du Québec said in a statement it 'strongly disagrees with linking physician compensation to performance.' The college of physicians is concerned doctors will spend less time with patients if they have to meet quotas. In the face of pressure from doctors, Premier François Legault vowed to not back down from the changes included in Bill 106. 'The Collège des médecins tells us (the reforms) would be dangerous for patients,' Legault said while arriving for question period at the legislature. 'Listen, there are other provinces that changed the remuneration system for doctors, to link a part of it to taking on more patients. Why would the other provinces be able to and not us? 'What is clear is if we don't change the recipe, the results won't change. If we want an efficient health-care system, we need a (better) way to remunerate doctors.' Legault said his government has to 'not do what preceding governments did' and must 'resist, to have courage to fight against the unions.' 'This should have been done 20 years ago,' he said. 'Each time, they launched fear campaigns. They send letters to their patients. 'They made the Liberal government back down; they made the Parti Québécois back down. The CAQ will not back down.'
Global News
22-05-2025
- Health
- Global News
Quebec doctor haunted by family tragedy condemns new health care bill
Warning: This story contains sensitive subject matter. Discretion is advised. A Quebec family doctor, whose life was thrust into the spotlight by a widely-publicized tragedy, is speaking out — frustrated by what she sees as the government's repeated insinuations that physicians like her aren't pulling their weight. Dr. Isabelle Gaston is the former wife of Guy Turcotte, the disgraced cardiologist sentenced to life in prison for the 2009 murders of their two children. While the Quebec government continues to push family doctors to take on more patients, Gaston says she simply can't — not with the deep psychological scars she still carries. Roughly a decade ago, Gaston transitioned from working in emergency medicine to becoming a family physician. The fast-paced, high-stress environment of the ER had become too emotionally triggering in the aftermath of her personal tragedy. Story continues below advertisement 'When a child screamed, it would take me back to the trauma — to the image of my own children,' she said, speaking about the loss of her five-year-old, Olivier, and three-year-old Anne-Sophie. Speaking to Global News on Tuesday, she said the emotional toll of that experience continues to shape both her life and her ability to practice medicine. 2:42 Quebec government wants changes to how doctors are paid Gaston says she has a roster of around 400 patients — fewer than most family doctors in Quebec — and works a reduced schedule of four days a week. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Given the lasting psychological trauma she lives with, Gaston says it's all she can manage. 'Because I have a lower caseload, there's some bonus salary that I don't get, and I accept that.' Story continues below advertisement Quebec tabled Bill 106 earlier this month with the goal of pushing doctors to take on more patients so that more people can get access to care. Premier Francois Legault has repeated that about a third of family doctors in the province aren't taking on enough patients. Gaston says she takes issue with that. 'I think that's a toxic way of thinking. Treating doctors as lazy.' The new bill proposes to adjust doctor compensation based on 'collective performance.' 'So my colleagues who work on the same team as me would be penalized because of my reduced workload.' Gaston added that trauma is far from the only reason a physician might want a reduced schedule, and is calling on the government to be flexible. She said a sick parent or child, among other things, are valid reasons for someone to work less. Quebec's Health Minister Christian Dubé has said he understands the vast majority of physicians work extremely hard, but to get more people in the province access to a family doctor, things will 'need to be done differently.' 'I think there are lot of ways of making the system more efficient without bashing the wrong people,' Gaston said. She told Global News she has thought about working in the private sector, where she could work less and make more money, but says it's important to her to work in the public system. Story continues below advertisement 'But I need to feel that my needs and those of my colleagues are being respected.'
