Understanding Sexual Abuse
What is Sexual Abuse?What Can You Do if You Are Feeling Uneasy During a Therapy Session?
What is Appropriate Touching?
Understanding the Relationship Between a Patient and a Physiotherapist i.e. a Therapeutic Relationship
How to Recognize Sexual Abuse
What Should You Do if You Suspect Sexual Abuse by a Physiotherapist?
What is Sexual Abuse?
For health care providers in Ontario, the Regulated Health Professions Act defines sexual abuse not only as sexual intercourse with a patient but also touching or remarks of a sexual nature directed toward a patient.What does this mean?
Physiotherapists are not allowed to:
- have sex of any form with a patient,
- touch a patient in a sexual way, or
- make comments of a sexual nature or behave in a sexual way towards a patient - please note that this does not apply to touching, behaviour or comments that are of a clinical nature and are appropriate to the care provided.
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario exists to protect the interests of the public and sees any form of sexual abuse or sexual boundary crossing as unacceptable. Sexual abuse must never be tolerated.
What can you do if you are feeling uneasy during a therapy session?
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Tell the physiotherapist to stop.
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Ask the physiotherapist to explain what he or she is doing and why he or she is doing it.
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Refuse to continue with the therapy if you remain uneasy.
If you think that you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a physiotherapist, please contact the Director of Professional Conduct at 416-591-3828 Ext. 233 or toll free at 1-800-583-5885 Ext. 233
What is Appropriate Touching?
Physiotherapists use their hands to touch various parts of the body to assess and provide treatment to patients. When touching occurs as part of your therapy you can expect that:- The physiotherapist will tell you what he/she is going to do before touching you
- The physiotherapist will ask your permission to touch you
- You will be allowed to ask questions or express any concerns
- You will feel respected
- The touching will be needed for your treatment
- You can ask that an activity be stopped at any time if you are feeling uneasy
- You can withdraw your consent or change your mind about any activity at any time
Understanding the Relationship between a Patient and a Physiotherapist i.e. a Therapeutic Relationship
The relationship between a patient and a physiotherapist is a professional one that is all about a patient getting the needed care or therapy from a professional. We call this a therapeutic relationship. Patients trust their care to a physiotherapist because of the physiotherapist’s unique knowledge and skills. Patients should expect that the physiotherapist will respect their needs and act in a caring and professional manner.A therapeutic relationship is very different than an intimate personal relationship. If a therapeutic relationship exists, physiotherapists are not allowed to have an intimate personal relationship with a patient. This does not mean that the physiotherapists will not be friendly and interested in you as a person, but it does mean that the physiotherapist should not develop an intimate personal relationship with you, in or out of the clinic or practice setting, while you are a patient. In fact to do so could be defined as sexual abuse, even if you consent to the relationship. The physiotherapist is the one responsible for maintaining an appropriate relationship with a patient.
The College has rules called standards that describe how physiotherapists are expected to behave in order to show that they are acting in the best interest of their patients.
For more information on these standards please visit the Registrants' Guide or contact the College’s Practice Advisor by telephone at 416-591-3828 Ext. 241 or toll free at 1-800-583-5885 Ext. 241, or by email at practiceadvice@collegept.org.
How to Recognize Sexual Abuse
Because of the way that sexual abuse of a patient is defined in the law, it is very difficult to exactly describe the kinds of actions that might be considered to be sexual abuse of a patient by a physiotherapist. Many times it will depend on the situation. What one person finds friendly and kind may seem too casual or intimate and make another person very uncomfortable. Each person’s level of comfort with physical contact and informal ways of speaking can be very different.The following list includes some examples of actions or behaviours that are likely inappropriate on the part of the physiotherapist. These behaviours can be obvious or subtle, and words can be as damaging as actions. Please contact the College if you experience the following with your physiotherapist:
- Any unwanted sexual attention or behaviour e.g. kissing or hugging in a sexual way
- Sexual touching e.g. touching your buttocks, breasts, genitals or any other area in a way that is not needed for therapy
- Sexually suggestive or seductive remarks e.g. comments about your sexual relationships or sexual orientation, or inappropriate sexual remarks or questions about your appearance or clothing, etc
- Sexually insulting or offensive comments or jokes
- Asking to meet you outside the clinic or practice setting or to have an intimate, personal relationship with you e.g. dating
- Not asking for permission before touching you
- Anything that makes you feel uneasy
What should you do if you suspect sexual abuse by a physiotherapist?
If you suspect that you or someone else is being sexually abused, please contact the Director of Professional Conduct at 416-591-3828 Ext. 233 or toll free at 1-800-583-5885 Ext. 233. Don't assume that someone else will do it; and don't worry if you are mistaken. It is important that someone with experience and responsibility looks into it. It is our job to look into situations like these.Please know that it is not your fault. The physiotherapist is responsible for understanding and maintaining an appropriate therapeutic relationship.
Tell someone you trust; for example, another healthcare provider, a family member, or someone at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
- The College Practice Advisor can talk to you about what is expected of a physiotherapist 1-800-583-5885 Ext. 241
- The Director of Professional Conduct can assist you in understanding what action can be taken and can accept a complaint about a physiotherapist’s behaviour 1-800-583-5885 Ext. 233
Accusations/complaints can be uncomfortable but it is important that the physiotherapist be held accountable for his/her behaviour and its impact on you. It can also assist with learning and protect others from harm
For more information on how to make a complaint and to understand what will happen as a result of a complaint click here.
If you have been sexually abused by a physiotherapist you may be eligible for funding to cover the costs of any therapy or counseling that is needed as a result. Please click here for more information about Funding for Therapy and Counselling Related to Sexual Abuse.
