Ontario Government Taking Action to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Patients

Ontario is taking concrete action to uphold and reinforce a zero tolerance policy on sexual abuse of patients by any regulated health professional. 

In fall 2016, Ontario intends to bring forward legislative amendments that would:

  • Add to the expanded list of acts that will result in the mandatory revocation of a regulated health professional’s license
  • Remove the ability of a college to allow a regulated health professional to continue to practice on patients of one gender after an allegation or finding of sexual abuse
  • Increase fines for health professionals and organizations that fail to report a suspected case of patient sexual abuse to a college
  • Increase transparency by adding to what colleges must report on their public register and website
  • Clarify the time period after the end of a patient-provider relationship in which sexual relations are prohibited 
  • Fund patient therapy and counselling from the moment a complaint of sexual abuse is made.

Read more at the link below.