Introduction to Professional Conduct

The College’s Professional Conduct Team receives complaints, concerns and mandatory reports related to the practice of physiotherapists. The Professional Conduct Team provides support to the three statutory committees that conduct case reviews and hearings as part of the College's mandate to protect the public interest: Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee,, Discipline, and Fitness to Practise. The roles of these Committees are further defined in the Health Professions Procedural Code which is Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act.

Overview of the Role of the Committees

A panel of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports  Committee reviews all information related to complaints made by members of the public which may include but is not limited to patients, payors, and other health care providers. A second panel of the ICRC   considers mandatory reports and other non-complaint information that has been brought to the College’s attention. Preliminary inquiries are often conducted by the Professional Conduct Team on behalf of the Registrar to obtain information.

In particularly serious matters, where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that professional misconduct has occurred or that the registrant may be incompetent, the ICRC may formally appoint an investigator. An investigator has significant powers, such as entering the registrant's workplace unannounced and summonsing records and information relevant to the complaint or issues of concern.

Another panel of the ICRC called Health Inquiry Panel may also address concerns where a registrant is suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder that is affecting their ability to practise physiotherapy safely.

Investigation Outcomes

When concluding their investigations, the ICRC may consider a variety of disposition options.
The Committees may where appropriate:

• Take no further action
• Issue guidance, advice and/or recommendations to the registrant
• Issue verbal or written cautions
• Invite the registrant to participate in a remediation plan as defined in an Acknowledgement & Undertaking
• Require the member to participate in a mandatory specified continuing education and remediation program
• Accept a mediated agreement achieved through the Mediated Resolution Process (MRP)
• Refer the matter to a hearing

Mediated Resolution Process

The Mediated Resolution Process (MRP) is another option available to registrants and complainants to address the issues/concerns that have arisen. MRP allows the complainant and the physiotherapist to work together to create solutions that satisfy everyone involved. The MRP process is entirely confidential.

Discipline & Fitness to Practise Hearings

In those cases where there are serious issues of incompetence or professional misconduct a case may be referred to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. In very serious cases of incapacity where a registrant is not demonstrating insight into their condition and its impact on their practice, a panel of the ICRC (Health Inquiry Panel)  may refer the case to the Fitness to Practise Committee for a hearing. The Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees conduct full legal hearings. In the most serious cases, a certificate of registration can be revoked or suspended, or some other term, condition or limitation may be placed on an individual's practice.

"Holding out" or "Inappropriate Use of Title"

The Professional Conduct team also undertakes investigations on behalf of the Registrar where a person who is not registered with the College is calling her or himself a physiotherapist or physical therapist, or is leading the public to reasonably believe he or she is a physiotherapist. Serious violations can result in a court injunction or prosecution, with the potential of a significant fine.

Additional information regarding any of these topics can be found under the corresponding website hearings.