CALGARY—Critics called for massive overhauls of the Alberta’s medical regulator Monday after a Star investigation found doctors who misbehave across borders can start over here with a clean record.

The 18-month investigation found 159 doctors who were able to move across the Canada-U.S. border, taking advantage of a broken system that keeps their disciplinary histories secret from patients. In Alberta, physicians’ records within the province are scrubbed after five years, and misconduct from other jurisdictions isn’t posted at all.

“We need to have more transparency,” said Liberal MLA David Swann, himself a medical doctor. “When physicians move across borders, they shouldn’t be able to leave behind (disciplinary) information that relates to patient care.”

In North America, the public physicians profiles on medical college and board websites play a vital role in protecting patients. But across North America, a patchwork of 64 regulators each have different bylaws, rules and laws that govern what is made public, the investigation found.

The investigation also highlighted the case of Dr. Richard Cunningham, a family physician in Fort McLeod, Alta., whose history of convictions for threats of violence and alcohol offenses don’t appear on his public profile in the province. In Alberta, criminal convictions aren’t posted on public profiles as they are now in Ontario.

Nine doctors in the Star’s database have held Alberta medical licences.

Steve Buick, a spokesperson for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, has said the regulator is looking at the possibility of sharing more information about doctors’ records with the public.

Rick Lundy, of the Calgary-based patient advocacy group Open Arms, said Alberta should make doctors’ entire histories — their disciplinary and criminal records from inside and outside the province — public as quickly as possible.

Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete.

“Shame on the different colleges and regulatory bodies looking after us, because they’re not doing their job,” Lundy said.

“They’re doing a huge injustice. They need to start communicating better amongst different jurisdictions.... The whole system needs to be overhauled. The health minister needs to take a really big look at this.”

Lundy said the lack of information makes it hard for patients to protect themselves and make informed decisions.

“It’s pretty sad that now you have to do your own research to know if your doctor is safe to see,” he said.

The office of Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said she wasn’t available to answer questions.

“We want all Albertans to feel safe accessing health care and to have the information they need to feel confident in the doctors providing their care,” said Hoffman in a written statement. “We are committed to working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, and all relevant stakeholders, to ensure that this is the case.”

Swann said he plans to meet with the college and push the provincial government to include more information on public profiles while balancing doctors’ privacy rights. There are already discussions underway, he added, about creating a national database including physicians’ records from all provinces.

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“The college is attending to this.... Maybe they just need a little push to get that going,” Swann said. “Now, you and I have to keep our eyes on it and see what changes are being made and when they’re being made.”

A spokesperson for the United Conservative Party caucus said the Opposition will also be pushing the province for answers, but didn’t answer questions about what specific changes should be made.

“This is the latest troubling case that raises questions about policies in our province,” the party said in a statement.

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