Collège des médecins du Québec

Originally incorporated in 1847, it was then called the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Lower Canada, and established its own regulations for the study and practice of medicine. The CMQ had Daniel Arnoldi as its first president. Some of the physicians who presided over the CMQ include Wolfred Nelson and Emmanuel Persillier-Lachapelle. In 1974, the name changed to the Corporation professionnelle des médecins du Québec (CPMQ).

In 1994, the CMQ headquarters moved to 2170 René-Lévesque Boulevard West, in Montreal, and then, on 1 May 2016, moved to its current location at 1250 René-Lévesque West, Suite 3500.

Mauril Gaudreault was elected for a first four-year term on 19 October 2018, replacing Charles Bernard, who had been the President and chief executive officer since 2010. He is now facing disciplinary action for having deliberately altered an article of the physicians’ code of ethics in the media during the conflict with the Legault government

List of presidents

1847 - 1849: Daniel Arnoldi

1849 - 1850: Wolfred Nelson

1850 - 1853: Joseph Morrin

1853 - 1856: Andrew Fernando Holmes

1856 - 1859: Jean-Charles Frémont

Regulations

Quebec physicians are subject to the Medical Act, the Professional Code, and the various regulations adopted by the CMQ. In order to fulfill the various mandates incumbent upon it and arising from its mission, the CMQ regularly develops or revises regulations intended to ensure the practice of medicine in Quebec. It attempts to maintain ethical standards to ensure safe and high quality medicine for the public.

Controversies

In 2007, foreign doctors stated that "the current selection process promotes the exclusion and stigmatization of immigrants". The same year, the CMQ explains that it is not the only player in the decision to accept or not foreign doctors.

In June 2008, the CMQ expressed disagreement vis-à-vis the C-484 project, which would "give a legal status to a partner and to forcibly criminalize abortion".

In 2018, the CMQ came under direct criticism for instituting and promoting institutional harassment through corrupt syndics.