1. No Discrimination
Physiotherapists must not make decisions about providing care based on discriminatory reasons.
The Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on any of the following grounds:
- age
- citizenship
- disability*
- ethnic origin
- place of origin
- creed
- ancestry, colour, or race
- sexual orientation
- sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding)
- gender identity, gender expression
- marital status (including single status)
- family status
2. Accessibility*
Physiotherapists must ensure that their care and facilities comply with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
3. Discontinuing Care
When a patient needs physiotherapy, a physiotherapist who wants to discontinue care must ensure that one or more of the following conditions are met:
- the patient requests the discontinuation,
- alternative services have been arranged,
- the patient has been given a reasonable opportunity to arrange alternative services,
- the physiotherapist is unable to provide care that meets the standards of practice because there are not enough resources available,
- the patient has failed to pay for physiotherapy services received within a reasonable time, and all reasonable attempts made by the physiotherapist to facilitate payment have been unsuccessful,
- the physiotherapist believes that the patient may become abusive,
- the patient has not cooperated or complied with the treatment plan and the result is that the care is not effective, or
- a professional boundary has been breached and all reasonable steps have been taken to manage the behavior.
4. Providing care during a public health emergency
When making decisions about providing care during a public health emergency*, physiotherapists must:
- Understand the nature of the public health emergency* and remain informed about the relevant federal, provincial and local response plans.
- Consider their personal competencies relevant to the care needed during the public health emergency and make decisions about their involvement accordingly.
Glossary
Disability means:
(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness
(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability
(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language
(d) a mental disorder
(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, s. 10(1)
Accessibility means removing barriers for individuals with disabilities so that they can access goods, services, and facilities.
Some examples of meeting the accessibility standards include:
- making at least one service counter accessible to people who use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs
- providing information in large print to a patient who has impaired vision
- creating a policy that identifies any assistive measures that you offer to help people with disabilities access your services
An emergency means a situation or an impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature, a disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or otherwise.
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9, s. 1.
A public health emergency is an emergency that may put human health at risk.