Quebec's Medical Residents Stop Teaching over Salary

The doctors in charge of training medical students are withholding their knowledge as contract negotiations falter.

With the postal strike/lockout thingy over, we're glad someone's willing to pick up the labour-unrest slack – Quebec's medical residents have stopped teaching medical students because of salary and scheduling issues. The residents, who are largely responsible for students' training at hospitals, say they are paid worse than counterparts in other provinces and that their 24-hour shifts are a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The doctors say they will use the time they usually spent teaching – about 10-12 hours a week – on extra patient care. The Federation medecins residents du Quebec, which represents the residents, says the low salary and long hours make it difficult to attract doctors and med students to the province.