College Speaks Out Against Spousal
Exemption for Physicians
Of all of the Ontario health colleges, the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Ontario has conducted by far the greatest number
of disciplinary hearings related to sexual abuse. This has included
cases involving patients who have been sexually abused by their
“spouses.” Vulnerability to sexual abuse can and does exist both
within and outside spousal relationships.
Dr. Marc Gabel
In October of 2013, our then vice-President, Dr. Marc Gabel,
spoke to a government standing committee about our reasons for
not wanting a spousal exemption introduced to the sexual abuse
provisions in the Regulated Health Professions Act.
Of most concern to the CPSO is the existence and implications
that stem from the power imbalance between patients and their
doctors. While some health practitioner groups advanced arguments in favour of a spousal exemption because they believed it
would be convenient and appropriate to treat their spouse. This is
not the case for physicians, Dr. Gabel told the committee.
“While we acknowledge that more than 20 very different health
professions are subject to the same legislation, we believe that it is
not in the public interest to have the spousal exemption apply to
physicians.”
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COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF ONTARIO