The movie business is providing a multibillion-dollar shot in the arm for the Canadian economy, but the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) says physicians should think carefully before becoming part of it.
Dr. Allan Eix, a senior medical officer, says doctors in major shooting locations such as Vancouver are providing a growing number of medical exams for movie stars to supplement their income. The exams are ordered for insurance purposes. Eix, writing in the CMPA's Information Letter, says insurers or others might sue if a movie star whose health an MD signed off on becomes ill and the doctor is alleged to have failed to diagnose a condition. He says physicians who work with foreign performers should have them sign a statement that if legal action is taken, it will be done in the jurisdiction where the doctor practises. The CMPA does not provide legal help if suits are filed outside Canada. Spokesperson Barb Wilson said the CMPA's initial interest arose because of MDs' roles in huge sports contracts. “Based on the growth we're seeing in the movie industry, we thought this was something doctors might want to be aware of.”
Because of government subsidies and the weak dollar, movie-making has become a major industry in Canada, with spending by foreign companies topping $1.7 billion in 2001. BC is now North America's third largest movie and film production centre, after Los Angeles and New York. — Patrick Sullivan, CMAJ