What does Professional Misconduct Mean to Me?

You may have seen the term  professional misconduct used on the College website or in emails or documents you’ve received from us. It’s a term we use a lot – baked into much of the work we do as a self-regulating College—it drives our processes, decisions and outcomes. 

It is a term used by all regulated professions—groups like teachers, occupational therapists, engineers, dentists, nurses and architects to name a few.  

According to the dictionary it is “a violation of the rules or boundaries set by the governing body of a profession.”

Things that would be considered to be professional misconduct are:

  • Failure to meet the Standards of practice
  • Working while impaired
  • Abusive conduct
  • Theft
  • Failure to get a patient’s informed consent
  • Breaching confidentiality
  • Failure to share information with client
  • Inadequate documentation and record keeping
  • Misrepresentation
  • Failure to meet legal/professional obligations
  • Failure to meet your reporting obligations
  • Conflict of interest
  • Inappropriate business practices
  • Disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct
  • Other grounds for professional misconduct
  • Guilty of an offence
  • Finding of professional misconduct in another jurisdiction
  • Sexual abuse

The Professional Misconduct Regulation

To See it in Action—Check Out Some of the College’s Cases of the Month

Under the Influence: Melissa’s Heartbreaking Dilemma

Heavy Are the Consequences: Professional Incompetence 

Paying the Price for Looking the Other Way 

No Such Thing As Innocent Curiosity: Patient Records Are Private 

Blurred lines—No Confusion for College on Sexual Involvement with Patient