Regulated members have increased responsibilities under the amended Health Professions Act (HPA).
Section 127(1) comes into force on April 1, 2019. In cases where a regulated member is part of more than one regulatory body, and a finding of unprofessional conduct is made under one of the jurisdictions, the member must report that finding of unprofessional conduct to the other regulator(s). This also includes findings of professional negligence.
Section 127.2(1) will also come into effect on April 1, 2019. This section speaks to acting in the member’s professional capacity when it is believed that sexual abuse or sexual misconduct behaviours have occurred. In these cases, the regulated member must report that conduct to the complaints director even if the conduct occurs by a member of another regulatory college.
The only time reporting is not required is when the information respecting the conduct of another regulated member was obtained in the course of providing professional services to the other regulated member.
Incidents where a member fails to report a believed sexual abuse or sexual misconduct behaviour may result in that member facing allegations of unprofessional conduct.