Research In Medical Regulation: An Active Demonstration of Accountability

To a large extent, health care regulation has been an “evidence-free” zone largely informed by anecdotal, traditional and legal considerations. Medical regulatory authorities (MRAs) are the owners of unique and valuable information regarding the performance of the medical profession. Innovative partnerships between teams of researchers and MRAs can be conducted ethically, securely and confidentially and will enable MRAs to undertake research that would otherwise be beyond their technical capabilities. Research will allow MRAs to gain a more nuanced understanding of the personal and environmental factors that impact on physician performance as well as how performance can be best maintained and improved. Additionally, the MRAs are the primary decision-making bodies able to capitalize on the results of such research activities in their policy making processes. By engaging in research, MRAs can advance the state of knowledge in medical regulation and, in doing so, actively demonstrate their commitment to acco...