PART C -Decision under Appeal . The decision under appeal is the reconsideration decision of the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (ministry) dated January 27, 2014 denying the appellant continuing qualification as a Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) to employment upon the renewal of her application. The ministry was not satisfied that three criteria set out in section 2 of the Employment and Assistance Regulation (EAR) had been met: 1. The appellant has a medical condition confirmed by a "medical practitioner" as required by subsection 2(4) of the EAR; 2. In the opinion of the "medical practitioner", the medical condition has continued for at least one year or occurred frequently in the past year, and is expected to continue for at least 2 more years as required by paragraph 2(4)(a); and 3. in the opinion of the minister, the medical condition is a barrier that precludes the appellant from searching for, accepting, or continuing in employment as required by paragraph 2(4)(b). The ministry specifically found that the appellant's doctor, a podiatrist, is not a "medical practitioner" under the Interpretation Act as it applies to provincial enactments. Notwithstanding the doctor's status, the ministry was also not of the opinion that the information provided indicated the appellant's medical condition presented barriers to employment. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment and Assistance Regulation, section 2; Interpretation Act, section 29 EAAT 003( 10/06/01)
PAR T E -Summ arv o f Facts T h e e vidence bef o r e the m ini s try at t he t ime of reco n sid era ti o n consis ted of: 1 . In f ormati on f rom the min istry's rec ords indicati n g the appellan t h ad re c e ive d PPMB ass istance since Februa r y 2008, ren ewed i n Nove mber 201 1. 2. Medica l Repo r t -P erso ns with Per sistent M u ltiple Barr i e rs (PPM B m ed i cal r epor t) dated Octob er 1 5 , 201 3 a n d sign ed b y the ap pel lant's p o di atrist, i n di c ati ng: • P r i mar y medical c o n d iti o n : hypert ensi o n , with da t e of onset le f t bl a nk; • S e c o n d ary medical cond it ion : onyc hocryot osis, wi t h d at e of onset "yr s ago" ; • T rea t ment: "R educti on , d ebri d ement of p artial spicule remov al o f nails 8/L (ill egible) toenails"; • Outcome: "D ecr eases p ossibil ity of infection and surge r y "; • The cond itio n ha s e xi sted f o r "Years " ; • Pr o gn osis: ex p e cted d urat i on 2 years or m ore ; • A ddi t i o nal comm ents : the po diatrist w rote " r eq uires c o ntinu a l t reatment " and c heck marked that the con dition i s epis odi c in natur e ; "every se v e ral mos." with d urat i on "same as a bove " ; • Restr i ctions: "N/ A". In t h e ce rt i ficatio n sectio n of the P PMB med ic a l repor t , the p odi atrist endorsed that: • He is a "physic ian regi s te r e d with the C o l lege of P h ysici ans and Surgeon s of British Co l um bia and l ice n sed to practice cl inica l m edici n e in BC" , writ ing the word "Podia trists " a b ove " P hy sicians "; • He i s a s p ecialis t in pod iatr y ; • He has bee n the a ppel lan t's me dical pra ctiti on er for o v er si x mont h s ; • He has a Medi cal Pra ctiti one r Number, whic h he in clude d below hi s si gn a t u r e . 3. A pp el lant' s u ndated Empl oyabili t y Screen i ndi c ating a tot al s core of 11. 4. Appell ant 's C lient Emplo yability Prof ile and Employment C hecklist d ated .J a nuary 3 1, 20 08 indicating barriers to employment due to lntractible Plantar Keratosis, Hypertension, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, pain, and minimal education and work experience . 5. Two PPMB medical reports dated Januar y 12, 2008 (2008 repor t) an d Octob er 19, 2011 (2011 rep ort) r e s pectively, completed b y the a ppellant's p od ia t rist and indicating a m ong oth er things: • Primary medical co n d ition: lntractible Plan tar Keratosis; • Secondary medical condition: Onychocryotosis; • Treatme nt: reduction, debridement, padding, and removing off ending spicules; • Restrictions: painful ambulation. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
I n t h e c e r t i f i c a t i o n s e c t i o n o f t h e s e t w o P P M B m e d i c • i n t h e 2 0 0 8 r e p o r t t h a t h e i s a p o d i a t r i s t : " p h a n d h e w r o t e " B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a A s s o c i a t i o n o S u r g e o n s ; • i n t h e 2 0 1 1 r e p o r t t h a t h e i s a " p h y s i c i a n r e g i S u r g e o n s o f B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a a n d l i c e n s e d t o • i n b o t h r e p o r t s t h a t h e i s a s p e c i a l i s t i n p o d i a • i n b o t h r e p o r t s t h a t h e h a s b e e n t h e a p p e l l a n • i n t h e 2 0 1 1 r e p o r t t h a t h e h a s a M e d i c a l P r a c 6 . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , s i g s t a t i n g n o r e a s o n s i n S e c t i o n 3 : R e a s o n f o r R e q u e s I n h e r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d F e b r u a r y , 3 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e • h e r p o d i a t r i s t r e m o v e s c y s t s o n t h e b o t t o m o f • h e r c y s t s h a v e m a d e h e r t o e s c u r l ; • s h e c a n n o t w e a r h e r s h o e s f o r m o r e t h a n a n • t h e p a i n i s t e r r i b l e , h e r t o e s g o n u m b ; a n d • s h e n e e d s s p e c i a l r u n n i n g s h o e s . I n o r a l t e s t i m o n y , t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h e r a d v o c a t e a d r e p o r t s f o r 8 y e a r s a n d t h e m i n i s t r y h a d a l w a y s a c c e n o t e d t h a t t h e p o d i a t r i s t s t a t e s i n h i s r e p o r t s t h a t h e S u r g e o n s o f B C ( C o l l e g e ) . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t w i l l e v e n t u a l l y r e q u i r e s p e c i a l s h o e s b e c a u s e o f t h e l a s t y e a r t h e m i n i s t r y a s k e d h e r i f s h e n e e d e d t h e s e P P M B . S h e a d v i s e d t h a t s h e w i l l s e e h e r f a m i l y d o c r e a p p l y f o r P P M B . I n r e s p o n s e t o q u e s t i o n s f r o m t h e p a n e l , t h e a p p e l l a 2 0 0 8 . H e r i n f o r m a t i o n h a s n ' t c h a n g e d ; s h e s t i l l h a s g o t t e n w o r s e . S h e c o u l d n o t r e m e m b e r i f s h e h a d b e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n b u t s h e s e e s h i m e v e r y 3 m c l a r i f y h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n w i t h t h e C o l l e g e b e c a u s e " s i n c r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e C o l l e g e , b u t n o w t h e r e ' s a g l i t c h a p p r o v e d i t a l l a l o n g . " A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t h a s a w e b s i t e f o r c h e c k i n g w h e t h e r a d o c t o r i s r e g i s a p p e l l a n t ' s p o d i a t r i s t d o e s n o t c o m e u p i n a s e a r c h o p r e v i o u s P P M B m e d i c a l r e p o rt s d i d i n d i c a t e r e s t r i c t i o r e c e n t r e p o r t o f O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3 . T h e p a n e l a d m i t s t h e s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e N o t i c e o f A p m i n i s t r y u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 \ ( b ) o f t h e E m v l o v m e n t a E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )a l r e p o r t s , t h e p o d i a t r i s t e n d o r s e d : y s i c i a n " i s c r o s s e d o u t w i t h " p o d i a t r i s t " i n s e r t e d , f P o d i a t r i s t s " b e l o w C o l l e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s a n d s t e r e d w i t h t h e C o l l e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s a n d p r a c t i c e c l i n i c a l ' p o d i a t r i c ' m e d i c i n e i n B C " ; t r y ; t ' s m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r f o r o v e r s i x m o n t h s ; a n d t i t i o n e r N u m b e r , w h i c h h e p r o v i d e s . n e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t o n J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 a n d t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h i s s e c t i o n i s l e f t b l a n k . a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t : h e r f e e t e v e r y c o u p l e o f m o n t h s ; h o u r ; d e d t h a t t h e p o d i a t r i s t h a d f i l l e d o u t t h e m e d i c a l p t e d t h a t h e w a s a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r . S h e i s r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e C o l l e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s a n d h e r f e e t a r e s o b a d s h e c a n b a r e l y w a l k a n d s h e b i g g r o w t h s t a k e n o f f h e r f e e t . S h e a d d e d t h a t s h o e s , b u t n o w t h e y s a y s h e d o e s n ' t q u a l i f y f o r t o r a n d h e r p o d i a t r i s t a t t h e e n d o f t h e w e e k a n d n t s t a t e d t h a t s h e h a s b e e n i n e x t r e m e p a i n s i n c e t h e s a m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d h e r c o n d i t i o n h a s e n t o h e r p o d i a t r i s t s i n c e s h e r e c e i v e d t h e o n t h s a n d d i d n o t f e e l s h e n e e d e d t o a s k h i m t o e 2 0 0 8 h e s a i d h e w a s w i t h t h e C o l l e g e ; h e i s b e i n g t h r o w n a t m e b y t h e m i n i s t ry , a f t e r t h e y i o n d e c i s i o n . T h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e C o l l e g e t e r e d w i t h t h e C o l l e g e , a n d t h a t t h e n a m e o f t h e f t h i s w e b s i t e . F u r t h e r , w h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s n s , t h e m i n i s t r y c a n o n l y c o n s i d e r t h e m o s t p e a l a n d t h e o r a l t e s t i m o n y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t , a s t e s t i m o n v i n s u p p o r t o f
information that was before the ministry at the time the decision being appealed was made. The panel finds that the appellant's statements elaborate on the enduring nature and effects of her medical condition, and her belief that her podiatrist was registered with the College. The ministry's oral statements provide the basis for its finding that the podiatrist is not registered with the College as set out in the Interpretation Act. The panel makes the following findings of fact: 1. The appellant was on PPMB assistance since 2008 and this appeal relates to her renewal application dated October 31, 2013. 2. The appellant has a medical condition, other than an addiction that is confirmed by a podiatrist, and in the opinion of the podiatrist has lasted for at least one year and is likely to continue for at least 2 more years. 3. The ministry approved the appellant's PPMB applications in 2008 and 2011 on the basis of medical reports from the podiatrist. 4. The appellant's podiatrist is not a registrant of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. 5. The appellant's conditions have endured over time and she has reported pain and difficulty with walking since 2008. EMT 003( 10/06/01)
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e i n t h i s a p p e a l i s w h e t h e r t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s u p p o rt e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e , o r w e r e a r e a s o n a b l e i n o f t h e a p p e l l a n t : • T h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r c o n t i n u i n g i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m a " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " c o n s u b s e c t i o n 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A R ; • A " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " h a d n o t c o n f i r m e d t h l e a s t o n e y e a r , a n d w a s e x p e c t e d t o c o n t i n u p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( a ) ; a n d • T h e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n , i n t h e m i n i s t r y ' s o p i n i f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r , a c c e p t i n g , o r c o n t i n u i n g T h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i o n s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n a r e a s f o l l o w E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n P e r s o n s w h o h a v e p e r s i s t e n t m u l t i p l e b a r r i e r s t 2 ( 1 ) T o q u a l i f y a s a p e r s o n w h o h a s p e r s i s t e n t m u l t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s s e t o u t i n ( a ) S u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) , a n d ( b ) S u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) o r ( 4 ) ( 2 ) T h e p e r s o n h a s b e e n a r e c i p i e n t f o r a t l e a s t 1 2 o o f o n e o r m o r e o f t h e f o l l o w i n g : ( a ) i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e u n d e r ( b ) i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e o r a y o u ( c ) a d i s a b i l i t y a l l o w a n c e u n d e r t h e D i s a b i l i t y B e n e f i ( d ) d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e u n d w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t . ( 3 ) T h e f o l l o w i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s a p p l y ( a ) t h e m i n i s t e r ( i ) h a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e p e r s o n s c o r e s a t S c h e d u l e E , a n d ( i i ) b a s e d o n t h e r e s u l t o f t h a t e m p l o y a b i l i t y s s e r i o u s l y i m p e d e t h e p e r s o n ' s a b i l i t y t o s e a r c ( b ) t h e p e r s o n h a s a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n , o t h e r t h a n a p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d t h a t ( i ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r , ( A ) h a s c o n t i n u e d f o r a t l e a s t o n e y e a o r ( B ) h a s o c c u r r e d f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e p a s t y e a r s , a n d ( i i ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e m i n i s t e r , i s a b a r r i e r t s e a r c h f o r , a c c e p t o r c o n t i n u e i n e m p l o y m e n t c t h e e r s o n h a s t a k e n a l l s t e s t h a t t h e m i n i s t e r c E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )t e r m i n a t i o n s o f t h e m i n i s t r y w e r e r e a s o n a b l y t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s n o f i r m i n g a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n a s r e q u i r e d b y a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d i t i o n h a d e x i s t e d f o r a t e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s a s r e q u i r e d b y o n , i s n o t a b a r r i e r t h a t p r e c l u d e s t h e a p p e l l a n t i n e m p l o y m e n t a s r e q u i r e d b y p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) . s : o e m p l o y m e n t i p l e b a r r i e r s t o e m p l o y m e n t , a p e r s o n m u s t m e e t f t h e i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g 1 5 c a l e n d a r m o n t h s t h e A c t , t h a l l o w a n c e u n d e r a f o r m e r A c t . t s P r o g r a m A c t , o r e r t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s l e a s t 1 5 o n t h e e m p l o y a b i l i t y s c r e e n s e t o u t i n c r e e n , c o n s i d e r s t h a t t h e p e r s o n h a s b a r r i e r s t h a t h f o r , a c c e p t o r c o n t i n u e i n e m p l o y m e n t , n a d d i c t i o n , t h a t i s c o n f i r m e d b y a m e d i c a l r a n d i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s , y e a r a n d i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e h a t s e r i o u s l y i m p e d e s t h e p e r s o n ' s a b i l i t y t o , a n d o n s i d e r s r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e e r s o n t o o v e r c o m e
t h e b a r r i e r s r e f e r r e d t o i n p a r a g r a p h ( a ) . ( 4 ) T h e p e r s o n h a s a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n , o t h e r t h a n p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d t h a t ( a ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r , ( i ) h a s c o n t i n u e d f o r a t l e a s t 1 y e a r a n d i s l i k e ( i i ) h a s o c c u r r e d f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e p a s t y e a r a a n d ( b ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e m i n i s t e r , i s a b a r r i e r t h a t p r e o r c o n t i n u i n g i n e m p l o y m e n t . I n t e r p r e t a t i o n A c t E x p r e s s i o n s d e f i n e d 2 9 I n a n e n a c t m e n t : " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " m e a n s a r e g i s t r a n t o f t h e C o l l C o l u m b i a e n t i t l e d u n d e r t h e H e a l t h P r o f e s s i o n s A c t p r a c t i t i o n e r " . A p p e l l a n t ' s P o s i t i o n T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t f o r 8 y e a r s , t h e m i n i s p r a c t i t i o n e r " a n d a p p r o v e d h e r P P M B a p p l i c a t i o n s o i s c o n c e r n e d , h e r p o d i a t r i s t i s a " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r e p o r t s t h a t h e w a s r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e C o l l e g e . T h e c y s t s o n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s f e e t ; h e r c o n d i t i o n i s e n d u r i n p a i n i s t e r r i b l e " , a n d i f s h e w e a r s h e r s h o e s f o r m o r e M i n i s t ry ' s P o s i t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o l o n " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " a s d e f i n e d i n t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o n d i t i o n p u r s u a n t t o s u b s e c t i o n 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A R t h a t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s a s r e q u i r e d b y a p p e l l a n t ' s p o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " u a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t i t m a d e a n u n f o r t u n a t e e r r o r i n g n u m b e r o f y e a r s , i t c a n n o t c o m p o u n d i t s m i s t a k e b y w i t h o u t t h e l e g i s l a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s b e i n g s a t i s f i e d . R e g a r d i n g b a r r i e r s t o e m p l o y m e n t , t h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o d o e s n o t , i n t h e m i n i s t ry ' s o p i n i o n , s a t i s f y E A R p a r a g c o n d i t i o n t o p r e c l u d e t h e c l i e n t f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r , a E AA 1 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )a n a d d i c t i o n , t h a t i s c o n f i r m e d b y a m e d i c a l l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s , o r n d i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s , c l u d e s t h e p e r s o n f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r , a c c e p t i n g e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s a n d S u r g e o n s o f B r i t i s h t o p r a c t i s e m e d i c i n e a n d t o u s e t h e t i t l e " m e d i c a l t r y c o n s i d e r e d h e r p o d i a t r i s t t o b e a " m e d i c a l n t h e b a s i s o f h i s m e d i c a l r e p o r t s . A s f a r a s s h e r " b e c a u s e h e c e r t i f i e d i n t h e P P M B m e d i c a l p o d i a t r i s t p r o v i d e s o n g o i n g t r e a t m e n t f o r t h e g a n d h a s g o t t e n w o r s e t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e " t h e t h a n a n h o u r h e r t o e s g o n u m b . g e r e l i g i b l e f o r P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e a A c t s e c t i o n 2 9 , h a s n o t c o n f i r m e d a m e d i c a l t h a s c o n t i n u e d f o r a t l e a s t o n e y e a r a n d i s l i k e l y p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( a ) . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e s t h a t t h e n d e r t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n A c t a n d w h i l e i t r a n t i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t t h e P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n f o r a a l l o w i n g t h e P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n t o c o n t i n u e s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e p o d i a t r i s t r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h e m e d i c a l c c e p t i n g o r c o n t i n u i n g i n e m p l o y m e n t .
I n t e r m s o f t h e o t h e r E A R c r i t e r i a , t h e m i n i s t r y a f f i r m u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n s 2 ( 2 ) a n d 2 ( 4 ) b a s e d o n t h e E m p a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n o n i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r a t l e a s t h e s e c r i t e r i a a r e n o t d i s p u t e d i n t h i s a p p e a l . P a n e l ' s D e c i s i o n T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t i n o r d e r f o r a c l i e n t t o q u a l i f y f a p p l i c a t i o n , a l l o f t h e c r i t e r i a i n s e c t i o n 2 o f t h e E A R i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m a " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " a s f o l l o w s : 1 . T h e p r a c t i t i o n e r m u s t c o n f i r m a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n 2 . T h e p r a c t i t i o n e r m u s t b e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e m a n d i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 m o r e y e a r s ( o p u r s u a n t t o p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( a ) ; a n d 3 . W h i l e p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) g i v e s t h e m i n i s t r y d i s c r e p r e s e n t s a b a r r i e r t o e m p l o y m e n t , t h e m i n i s t ry i n f o r p r a c t i t i o n e r ' s i n f o r m a t i o n , w i t h S e c t i o n C . 3 o f t h e P P d e s c r i b e a n y r e s t r i c t i o n s s p e c i f i c t o t h e c l i e n t ' s c o n d A s t h e m i n i s t r y n o t e s i n t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n p r a c t i t i o n e r " a p p l i e s t o t h e E A R . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e I n " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " i s a r e g i s t r a n t o f t h e C o l l e g e w p r a c t i s e m e d i c i n e a n d u s e t h e m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e E A R u n W h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s e v i d e n c e w a s t h a t h e r p o d i a t r i t h e " C o l l e g e o f P h y s i c i a n s a n d S u r g e o n s " ( w i t h t h e a n d t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y h a d a c c e p t e d h i s m e d i c a l r e p o t h e p o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a r e g i s t r a n t o f t h e C o l l e g e . T h e r e g i s t r a n t s o n i t s w e b s i t e a n d t h e n a m e o f t h e a p p e s e a r c h . F u r t h e r , t h e m i n i s t r y a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t i t h a p p e l l a n t w a s e l i g i b l e f o r t h e P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n b a a n d i t d i d n o t g i v e t h e a p p e l l a n t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o o h e r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e q u e s t . T h e p a n e l a c c e p t s t h e m i n i s t r y ' s i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i p o d i a t r i s t ' s n a m e a s a r e a s o n a b l e w a y o f v e r i f y i n g t h A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y r e a s o n c o n f i r m e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n i n c l u d i n d u r a t i o n , t h e p o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a " m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r " r e q u i r e m e n t s u n d e r s e c t i o n s 2 ( 4 ) , 2 ( 4 ) ( a ) a n d 2 ( 4 ) ( b W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n b e i n g a b a r r i e r E A R , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s o p i n i o n t h a t p r e c l u d e h e r f r o m e m p l o y m e n t w a s r e a s o n a b l e . T h w r i t t e n " N / A " i n t h e O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3 P P M B m e d i c a l r e p r e s t r i c t i o n s . T h e m i n i s ! f o u n d t h a t " . . . n o t w i t h s t a n d E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 1 0 6 1 0 1 )s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s P P M B a p p l i c a t i o n f a l l s l o y a b i l i t y S c r e e n s c o r e o f 1 1 , a n d t h a t t h e t 1 2 o f t h e p a s t 1 5 m o n t h s . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t o r t h e P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n a n d r e n e w t h e i r m u s t b e s a t i s f i e d . T h e s e p r o v i s i o n s h i n g e u p o n p u r s u a n t t o s u b s e c t i o n 2 ( 4 ) . e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n h a s e x i s t e d f o r a t l e a s t a y e a r , r i s e p i s o d i c i n n a t u r e b u t h a s o c c u r r e d f r e q u e n t l y } t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n m i n g i t s o p i n i o n , r e l i e s o n t h e m e d i c a l M B m e d i c a l r e p o r t a s k i n g t h e p r a c t i t i o n e r t o i t i o n . , t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n A c t ' s d e f i n i t i o n o f " m e d i c a l t e r p r e t a t i o n A c t s e c t i o n 2 9 , i n a n " e n a c t m e n t " , a h o i s e n t i t l e d u n d e r t h e H e a l t h P ro f e s s i o n s A c t t o i t l e . I t f o l l o w s t h e n , t h a t a p o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a l e s s t h e y a r e f i r s t a r e g i s t r a n t o f t h e C o l l e g e . s t c e r t i f i e d t h a t h e i s a " p h y s i c i a n " r e g i s t e r e d w i t h w o r d " P o d i a t r i s t s " i n s e r t e d a b o v e " P h y s i c i a n s " ) , r t s s i n c e 2 0 0 8 , t h e m i n i s t r y ' s e v i d e n c e w a s t h a t m i n i s t r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e C o l l e g e m a i n t a i n s a l i s t o f l l a n t ' s p o d i a t r i s t d o e s n o t c u r r e n t l y c o m e u p i n a a d m a d e a n u n f o r t u n a t e e r r o r i n f i n d i n g t h a t t h e s e d o n t h e p o d i a t r i s t ' s p r e v i o u s m e d i c a l r e p o r t s b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m a v a l i d p r a c t i t i o n e r p r i o r t o n g t h e C o l l e g e ' s w e b s i t e a n d i t s s e a r c h f o r t h e a t t h e p o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a r e g i s t r a n t o f t h e C o l l e g e . a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e p o d i a t r i s t g h o w l o n g i t h a d e x i s t e d a n d i t s e x p e c t e d a s s e t o u t i n t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n A c t . E A R } a r e t h e r e f o r e n o t s a t i s f i e d . t o e m p l o y m e n t u n d e r p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( b } o f t h e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n d o e s n o t e m i n i s t r y ' s e v i d e n c e w a s t h a t t h e p o d i a t r i s t h a d o r t w h e n a s k e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e o d i a t r i s t i s n o t a m e d i c a l
p ra c t i t i o n e r , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i n y o u r M e d i c a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t p r e c l u d e s y o u f r o m s e a r c h T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s e v i d e n c e w a s t h a t h e r c o n d i t i o n h a m o n t h s . H e r f e e t h a v e g o t t e n w o r s e a n d t h e r e s t r i c t i n t h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n f r o m 2 0 0 8 a n d 2 0 1 1 s t i l l s t a n d " a m b u l a t i o n i s e x q u i s i t e l y p a i n f u l " ; " m i n i m a l w a l k i n g a n d " c a n n o t s t a n d o r w a l k " . T h e p a n e l c o n s i d e r s i t r e a s o n a b l e t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y m a k i n g i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n t h e m i n i s t ry o n l r e p o r t f r o m O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3 . A s t h e m i n i s t r y e x p l a i n e d b e c a u s e P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n i s r e v i e w e d e v e r y 2 y e c h a n g e o v e r t i m e . T h e p o d i a t r i s t n o t e d " N / A " i n t h e s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t h a v e a n y c u c o n d i t i o n . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s o f t h e E A R r e s p e c t i n g a b a r r i e r t o e m p l o y m e n t w a s I n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c c o n t i n u i n g P P M B q u a l i f i c a t i o n w a s r e a s o n a b l y s u p p c o n f i r m s t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n . E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )a l R e p o r t P P M B d o e s n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t y o u h a v e i n g f o r , a c c e p t i n g , o r c o n t i n u i n g i n e m p l o y m e n t . " s n o t c h a n g e d o v e r t i m e d e s p i t e t r e a t m e n t e v e r y 3 i o n s t h a t t h e p o d i a t r i s t a n d t h e m i n i s t r y i d e n t i f i e d , s p e c i f i c a l l y : " a m b u l a t i o n s e c o n d a r y t o p a i n " ; o n f o o t " , " c a n n o t w a l k u p s t a i r s o r d o h o u s e w o r k " , w o u l d g i v e l i t t l e w e i g h t t o t h i s e v i d e n c e b e c a u s e i n y c o n s i d e r e d t h e m o s t r e c e n t P P M B m e d i c a l , i t o n l y l o o k s a t t h e m o s t r e c e n t i n f o r m a t i o n a r s a n d a c l i e n t ' s c o n d i t i o n a n d r e s t r i c t i o n s c a n 2 0 1 3 m e d i c a l r e p o r t n e x t t o R e s t r i c t i o n s , r r e n t b a r r i e r s t o e m p l o y m e n t d u e t o h e r m e d i c a l t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t p a r a g r a p h 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) n o t m e t . i s i o n t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n e l i g i b l e f o r t h e o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p a n e l
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.