Draft bill to enforce cancer reporting
(CNS): Doctors and physicians will soon be obligated to report all cases of cancer and brain tumours that they diagnose in patients living in Cayman. Although a voluntary register was established some four years ago, just 250 cases have been recorded on it, only a fraction of the patients diagnosed over the years. In order to understand the prevalence, type of cancer and possible relationships to environmental factors in Cayman the government is taking the step to introduce a mandatory regime.
Launching a thirty-day consultation period on Tuesday, the premier and now minister of health, Alden McLaughlin, said the introduction of a mandatory register would give policy makers an accurate picture of the progress in the fight against the disease and allow government to get a handle on the prevalence and types of cancers being diagnosed in Cayman. He said it would contribute to scientific research and answer questions about whether or not Cayman has higher rates that other jurisdictions, what might be the causes or environmental factors and how many people are at risk.
The premier added that the World Health Organisation estimates that cancer may increase by 70% over the next decade and it is encouraging all countries to introduce mandatory reporting and official cancer and tumour registries.
McLaughlin emphasised the confidentiality in the new bill, which will provide for reporting, the official register and a board to oversee the regime.
“It will be confidential and under no circumstances will it be shared with outside parties,” he said, as he encouraged everyone to get a copy of the law and share their thoughts with officials to help create the best possible piece of legislation that will enable the authorities to more effectively fight the disease. “Cancer is an emotional topic and most people have lost someone they know to the dreaded disease,” he said.
The law will require the doctors, not the patients, to register the incidences of cancer and brain tumours and the relevant data, which the authorities hope will help in the fight against the disease and the need to understand exactly how it impacts this community.
Doctors must provide the information to the registrar within 45 days of tests results confirming cancer or brain tumours. Physicians will be a liable to a $1000 fine if they fail to report a confirmed case. The fines, however, for breaching confidentiality are far greater in order to offer reassurance to the community that no personal medical information of patients will be given to anyone else. All of the data that will be recorded on the national register will be exempt from the freedom of information law.
Dr Sook Lee Yin said she has been working towards the goal of a registry for many years. The move from voluntary to mandatory reporting was very important, she added, as the current sample was too small to give a realistic picture of the cancer landscape and how prevalent it is, as well as the types of cancers being diagnosed. She said that until the country had a mandatory register the research and understanding of the issue cannot move on any further. She explained that at present the information health professionals have is anecdotal.
Although the voluntary register suggests breast cancer is the most prevalent type in Cayman, without the necessary register researchers cannot know if it actually is or why it is. She said it had been suspected that women here were carrying a particular gene common in the Caribbean, as was highlighted in a study in Barbados. But research during a small voluntary study here based on that study showed that many of the incidences of breast cancer in Cayman were in women who were not of Caribbean descent and they did not have the relevant gene. The doctor explained that without exact data of our own, health professionals cannot make any assumptions and Cayman is now at the point where we must begin collating real and reliable data.
Jennifer Ahearn, the chief officer in the health ministry, said it was important to shape the best possible and most robust piece of legislation to ensure the information is accurate, as she urged people to look at the law, which is available on the ministry website, and offer their comments.
The premier said that following the 30-day consultation period, he was hoping to bring the bill to the Legislative Assembly before June as he did not anticipate many major changes would be needed, since the draft legislation satisfied the concerns which had been mostly about confidentiality.
Draft Cancer Registry Bill, 2014
Information about how to make a comment is expected to be on the health ministry’s website shortly. People can also call 244 2374 for more information.
Category: Health, Medical Health
I remember when HSA advertised for the position of Cancer Registrar. I thought this was the person tasked to collect cancer stats. Clearly, she’s done **** all. Typical HSA.
As far as I know, this “registry” has been a long time coming. My theory: maybe a lot of the people with cancer died before their information could be collected. And let’s be right, government moves SLOW, and is retroactive. They never want to address anything until it becomes a glaring problem, and even then, it’s almost always a bag of lip service and little action.
I speak from experience. As a 2-time ovarian cancer survivor (I think I can say that), I walked myself up to the Cancer Registrar’s office and filled out the paperwork. Not difficult, but I’m sure there is a more convenient way of collecting stats, especially after chemo or radiation.
Last February, before I was re-diagnosed, the first doctor that I went to completely ignored my symptoms. Had the idiot simply ordered a routine scan, they would have seen the softball sized tumor in my uterus as well as the spots on my liver and throughout my abdomen. I’m being careful not to even mention the sex of the doctor, but I feel it imperative to share this with everyone:
GET A SECOND OPINION!!!
You know when I was supposed to follow up with said doctor? August!
By August, I had major surgery and two hospital admissions (I development clots that travelled to my lungs. I will probably be on a blood thinner for the rest of my life, and I’m 27.)
I can safely say I would be dead if I had just taken the first doctor at their word. No one knows you better than YOU! If something feels wrong, go see a doctor. Symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks, go see a doctor! The first one tells you something you don’t understand, or you don’t believe, for the sake of putting your mind at ease, go see another doctor!
As far as the registry being mandatory, it doesn’t bother me. Information is power. It’s funny that government is so eager to get these stats, but where was their involvement (monetary contribution) when the cancer unit was being built? Ass*****.
Nothing’s going to happen. Watch.
Wow really? The ass that didn’t like my comment must work for HSA.
Get over it troll!
I have a sneaking suspicion that Government is doing insurance companies bidding here!!! NOBDY OTHER THAN INSURANCE COMPANIES would want this! This is insane!
This is yet another example of Government’s confusion regarding its priorities. More important and relevant would be a joint study of MRCU’s 50 year old mosquito eradication programme and the high rate of cancer in the Cayman Islands.
However, this is another exercise in futility as far as enforcement is concerned. Does Government not realize that new laws, regulations and requirements mean more enforcement and therefore more resources??!! Of course, they plan to get more re$ource$ from penalizing doctors for not reporting! This is beyond absurd and reeks of “strong-arm” tactics which have no place in health care – except in the event of a pandemic or the control of serious communicable diseases.
Alden assures confidentiality??!! Really! How can he guarantee patients’ confidentiality? What mechanism will be created to secure doctors’ reports in this hare-brained proposal? Will that data base be managed like the RCIPS files which were lost without explanation?
Where does Alden and PPM come up with this kind of crap??
Thank you for stating what I am sure many of us are thinking
Just another way of government infringing on the privacy of the population. How can they guarantee that the information will remain confidential? No computer data is safe in these times. Just like the proposed statistics amendments, I say NO to this law.
Sure, lets stop saving lives because i don’t want people to know something about me…. is a good thing you do not have a saying on this. Just for the record, the government already has all your information, do you have a passport, a driver’s license or medical insurance? a facebook account? your information is all over the place idiot. this is just a live saving bill, an educated person is a free person, go for it, it feels great to know
Exactly. Education and statistics give us more power over this disease and give it more than a “marl-road report” on where Cayman fits in globally with cancer types and rates. Every insurance form we fill out, every medical report…those are on file. Why do people seem to fear this as being a “big brother” approach to helping our community? So ever quick to criticize…
Initially, you had a sensible debate going.
However when you called me an ‘idiot’ because I have an opinion that differs from yours, you blew it. (I will not stoop to your level of name calling).
Good by!!.
.
Wow, this takes stupid to a new level. Such a waste of resources.
yep, allowing you to make such a comment is a waist of Oxygen…
If 250 cases were reported. How do they know it is underreported?
As a percentage of population do they expect more cases?
Cancer, last time I checked can be cured. Stupidity cant. I wonder what someone is up to?
A public STD registry would be more helpful, It would have 0 expats on it but will allow everyone to know whom has cooties.
History has shown that these lists are useful especially when getting rid of people
Germany used lists like this not long ago. and so has the US
If you have a STD, you should know how you got it. Cancer can be caused by many things. STD’s can be cured too. And the purpose of the registry isn’t to notify people that you have cancer, it’s to find out which cancers are prevalent here.
you are right, stupidity cant be cured, you are a prime example. STD’s, really?
to 11/02/2015 8:53am…stupidity can’t be cured…well the last time I checked there are ALOT OF CANCERS THAT CAN’T BE CURED, so not sure you know what you are talking about that the last time you checked cancer can be cured? Where did you get that false information, some cancers can be cured, but there is always a chance of it coming back. So hence your stupidity can’t be cured!
PPM being its usual ignorant self or are they acting for a puppet master. Forcing people to partcipate in surveys and now teel the govt about your diseases….. damn fools MLAs …. you ever read what Snowden is revealing about Data and its abuse.
PPM? what do they have to do with the concept of this idea? that came from the World Health Organization, i trust you wouldn’t dare to link them with the PPM or question their intentions, you are not that smart
Enforce reporting I have cancer??? Why…thats my right, you can’t enforce me to tell you I have cancer…is government going to take care of me? No, are they going to enforce insurance companies to insure me, No? to gather information to help people, i doubt it. Just one more personal thing they are so called enforcing us to do. I don’t think they can do this.
No one will enforce you to report your medical status, you, obviously, are not a Doctor. They are the ones who must report it.
“It will be confidential and under no circumstances will it be shared with outside parties,”
Outside parties, presumably, includes the Department of Immigration.
To be frank though, this is an absolutely appalling piece of legislation, and will do precisely nothing to address cancer care or prevention. If the governor assents to this, it should be litigated both in Cayman and in the UK as it is an absolutely disgraceful breach of human rights. The suggestion that there should be criminal penalties for non-reporting beggars belief – what has happened Cayman? When did respect for basic human dignity and privacy disappear. Any MLA who votes in favour of this legislation is not fit for public office.
The UK already has compulsory reporting of cancers.
http://www.ncin.org.uk/collecting_and_using_data
That is debatable, that they are not fit for office, the fact that you are not even close to familiarized with this matter is a fact. Obviously you have little to non experience in research and statistical analysis in the medical field, if you dont know, please, dont talk. let the experts save lives…
Ah…so how amazing that there is obviously some form of finacial penalty involved for non reporting…just another way of raising cash for Govt…
why do you see a problem in a Bill that will save lives on the long run an its enforcement? are you that paranoid? or just uneducated
I have no problem with reporting as its done in many other countries. What i do have a problem with the way that Govt yet again again seeks to financially benefit for non compliance . In a country where the revenue is primarily raised by income tax I will bet there is no finacial penalty for no reporting.