Stakeholders Area

Patients Area
Physiotherapists Area

Name Withheld

Discipline Case Summary

Boundary Crossings in a Therapeutic Relationship are Unacceptable

Maintaining boundaries is not just a College rule; it is for a physiotherapist’s own protection. Picture this:

A female physiotherapist treats a male patient, the victim of a head injury. He finds the treatment very helpful. The patient is under stress and the physiotherapist provides emotional support.

When she opens an office in her home, the physiotherapist treats him there. Treatment sessions stretch to sixty minutes and then to ninety minutes because only the physiotherapist can provide pain relief. Small gifts and cards are exchanged and the patient provides significant financial help to a friend of the physiotherapist (whom he met at the physiotherapist’s home). The patient insists that the physiotherapist and her husband visit his home and meet his family, which they do. The patient requests the physiotherapist’s help for an appointment with an out of town specialist and in preparing for court proceedings, both of which she provides.

Physical touching of an inappropriate nature occurs between the patient and the physiotherapist (which the patient says was consensual but the physiotherapist says was forced). When the physiotherapist attempts to terminate the professional relationship, the patient threatens to report her to the College. Court proceedings are reported alleging threatening behaviour by the patient against other people, including one conviction of assaulting another woman.

Ultimately the police are called and the patient is convicted of criminal harassment of the physiotherapist. During the breakdown of the relationship, the patient makes a formal complaint against the registrant.

A real life case similar to the hypothetical one described here really did occur. Because of the special circumstances of the case, the names of the participants cannot be published. However, the registrant did face discipline proceedings for allowing boundaries to be crossed.

The panel of the Discipline Committee ordered that the physiotherapist,
  1. Successfully complete courses in boundary awareness and assertiveness training, acceptable to the Registrar;
  2. Undergo a 24-month mentoring program;
  3. Pay the financial costs for the above programs;
  4. Receive an oral reprimand;
  5. Not supervise students or physiotherapists with a supervised practice certificate until completion of the 24-month mentoring program; and
  6. Comply with other related disciplinary measures to protect the public and ensure that there is no repeat of this conduct.