Sexual abuse initiative
Making
information
more accessible
to patients
A
t its meeting, Council reviewed the consultation feedback received on the draft Rights
and Responsibilities document. This draft
document – now entitled What to Expect
During Medical Encounters – describes what patients can
expect from their physician during a medical encounter,
what rights they have as a patient and how the College
can help if they have questions or concerns about the
care they received. It also specifically addresses sexual
abuse and boundary issues by outlining the responsibilities physicians have to maintain a strictly professional
relationship with patients and to conduct physical
examinations and procedures in an appropriate and
respectful manner. It does not create new expectations
for doctors.
Council considered the revisions to the draft document that had been made in response to the consultation
feedback and directed that some additional changes be
made before it is distributed to patients and the public.
As part of the initiative, Council has also identified
other opportunities to making information more accessible to patients, including developing an educational
brochure that packages the general information contained in the College’s website regarding sexual abuse
complaints in a clear, concise way for patients. This
brochure is available in 10 different languages and is
downloadable from the website.
Exploring creation of separate fund for costs
The Patient Relations Committee program provides
funding for therapy/counselling to survivors of sexual
abuse committed by physicians. Council provided specific direction regarding how to expand the scope of
the funding it provides as part of its current program.
At its September meeting, Council directed that the
scope of funding provided to eligible applicants be
expanded to include costs associated with accessing the
therapy/counselling. This would provide the College
with discretion to fund costs such as child care and
medication, and reasonable travel and accommodation
expenses. Eligible applicants may not be otherwise
able to access therapy/counselling if funding for these
associated costs is not provided.
At the December meeting, Council directed staff to
pursue legislative change to expand the scope of funding the College provides as part of its current program
to costs associated with accessing therapy/counselling, and in the interim, to explore the creation of a
separate College fund for these costs. If determined
to be feasible, creating a separate fund could provide
the College with the means to fund these costs in the
absence of legislative change.
Issue 4, 2015 Dialogue
Issue4_15.indd 33
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2015-12-16 9:36 AM