As professionals, there are systemic and legal expectations that regulated members hold each other accountable. Reporting potential breaches in conduct is an essential step in enforcing conduct standards and following the Health Professions Act.
Under the HPA, regulated members are responsible for self-reporting to the Registrar:
- findings of unprofessional conduct against them with another regulatory body or in another jurisdiction (e.g. another province, territory, country) and must provide the College with the decision;
- findings of professional negligence against them in a lawsuit; and
- criminal charges or criminal convictions against them.
Regulated members are responsible for reporting to the Complaints Director:
- the concerning behavior(s) of other regulated member(s) such as the provision of incompetent and/or unethical services; and
- their reason for believing that another regulated member has committed sexual abuse or sexual misconduct against a patient or client.
Exception: This reporting requirement does not apply if the information was received while providing professional services to another regulated member.
For example, if regulated member A received the information while providing professional services to regulated member B, then the reporting requirement does not apply to regulated member A (see HPA, s. 127).