ABSTRACT
Comprehensive statutory regulation of the medical community is essential in order to protect the right of every citizen to informed choice of medical services. Comprehensive systems of independent client advocates with statutory authority to monitor compliance at the clinical level, and to act decisively in instances of non-compliance, are urgently needed. Advocates could be allocated to specific health care regions, as an extension of the existing network of health care complaints services. This would mean that those complaints services currently without statutory powers to act as client advocates would become truly effective. Additional change strategies could include public education campaigns detailing the rights of health care clients; education of medical students, by client representatives, about these rights; and establishment of tribunals that are completely independent of the medical community. Regular public forums allowing for community debate about the limitations of contemporary medicine, as well as sharing stories of client experience, could also be established.
