Sexual abuse initiative
Improving efforts to reach out
O
bilities document that focuses on the duties and
ur efforts to better support patients
Patient
Support &
obligations that physicians owe their patients. This
has led us to add detailed practical
Access
document is not limited to addressing the issues of
information and resources to our
sexual abuse. The draft document – which is now
website and create two outreach tools,
out for consultation – sets out what patients can expect
including one that will be available in 10 different
from their physician during medical encounters, what
languages.
rights they have as a patient, and how the College can
Our multilingual brochure – “Reporting Sexual Abuse –
help if they have questions or concerns about something
Do You Think Your Doctor Crossed the Line? – will be used
their physician said or did.
as an outreach tool to provide information about the
Once approved, the Rights and Responsibilities docuCollege’s role and to encourage patients to come forward.
ment will be added to the existing complement of inforThe brochure is a condensed version of the informamation available on the College’s website.
tion that is currently available on the College’s website,
We will also have an online list of resources about
including the specific information regarding sexual abuse
available community services or agencies that provide
complaints. It explains that sexual abuse is a significant
support to victims of sexual abuse. These resources will
breach of trust and one that we take very seriously. We
be available to patients who want to seek support beyond
also describe what sexual abuse is – which is important
what the College provides.
information, especially if patients aren’t familiar with
Please