Duties of Council.—The council is required to make orders, regulations, or by-laws for regulating the register and the fees to be paid for registration, and to make rules and regulations for the guidance of examiners, and may prescribe the subjects and modes of examination, and make all such rules and regulations in respect of examinations not contrary to this act as they deem expedient and necessary (Cons. Acts 1888, c. 81, s. 31).
Forfeiture of Right.—Any registered practitioner convicted of any felony thereby forfeits his right to registration and by direction of the council his name is required to be erased from the register, or in case a person known to have been convicted of felony presents himself for registration, the registrar has power to refuse such registration (ib., s. 32).
Rights of Registered Practitioner.—Every person registered under the act is entitled to practise medicine and surgery, including midwifery, or any of them as the case may be, in British Columbia, and to demand and receive in any court of the province, with full costs of the suit, reasonable charges for professional aid, advice, and visits, and the costs of any medical or surgical appliances rendered or supplied by him to his patient (ib., s. 33).
Evidence.—The registrar of the council, under the direction of the council, is required to publish a correct register of the names and residences with the medical titles, diplomas, and qualifications conferred by any college or body, of all persons appearing on the register at the date of publication. Said register is called “The British Columbia Medical Register.” A copy of such register for the time being, purporting to be so printed and published, shall be prima facie evidence that the persons therein specified are registered according to the provisions of this act; and, subject to sub. sec. 2 of this section, the absence of the name of any person from such copy shall be prima facie evidence that such person is not registered according to this act (ib., s. 34).
In the case of a person whose name does not appear in such copy, a certified copy under the hand of the registrar of the entry of the name of such person on the register shall be evidence that such person is registered under this act (ib., s. 34, sub. s. 2).
Homœopathic Physicians.—Any homœopathic physician holding a diploma of qualification from any authorized school or college requiring a three-years’ course of study may be registered, and shall not be bound to pass the examination required by sec. 29, but in lieu thereof, shall pass before the council, or such of them as may be appointed for that purpose, a satisfactory examination in anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry, obstetrics, and surgery (ib., s. 35, as amended, Act 1890, c. 30, s. 2).
Neglect to Register.—Those entitled to register and neglecting to do so are not entitled to any of the rights and privileges conferred by registration and are liable to all penalties against unqualified or unregistered practitioners (ib., s. 37).
Fraudulent Registration.—If a person procures or causes to be procured his registration by means of any false or fraudulent representation or declaration, the registrar may, on receipt of sufficient evidence to that effect, report the matter to the council and, on the written order of the president, attested by the seal of the council, erase the name of such person from the register and make known the fact and the cause thereof in the British Columbia Gazette, and after such notice has appeared such person shall cease to be a registered practitioner, and to enjoy any of the privileges conferred by registration, without the express sanction of the council (ib., s. 39).
To wilfully procure or attempt to procure registration by false representations or declarations is punishable by a penalty not exceeding $100. To knowingly aid or assist therein is punishable with a penalty of from $20 to $50 for each offence (ib., s. 40).
Unlawful Practices.—It is not lawful for any person not registered to practise medicine or surgery for hire, gain, or hope of reward. To so practise or profess to practise, or advertise to give advice in medicine or surgery, is punishable with a penalty of from $25 to $100 (ib., s. 41).