mandatory reports
Reporting policy for guidance . The policy is available on the College ’ s website at www . cpso . on . ca .
5 . If I don ’ t know the name of the regulated health professional who has allegedly abused the patient , do I have to make a report to the College ? No . Under the RHPA , if you do not know the name of the regulated health professional who would be the subject of the report , you are not required to file a report . You may wish to follow up with the person who provided you with the information to find out as much information as possible , and to encourage them to disclose the name of the regulated health professional . There may be numerous reasons for a patient ’ s reluctance to reveal the name of the regulated health professional . This may include uncertainty about a college ’ s investigatory and complaints process and what will be involved once the report is submitted . With respect to complaints of sexual abuse by physicians , the College has produced a brochure that provides information on the process of making a sexual abuse complaint and the investigation which the College will undertake . Reviewing information with the patient may help to put him or her at ease . The fact sheet is available on the College ’ s website .
6 . Do I need the patient ’ s consent in order to make the report ? No , the consent of the patient who may have been sexually abused is not required in order to make a report to the relevant college . However , you do need the written consent of the patient ( or the consent of the patient ’ s representative ) if disclosing his or her name as part of the report .
7 . If another person or the patient has already reported the suspected sexual abuse to the relevant college , do I still have to make a report ? Yes . Even if you believe or are aware that the suspected abuse has been reported to the applicable college by another person or institution , this does not discharge your obligation to make a report . You may have information that another reporter does not have . Additionally , this will ensure that a report does in fact get filed with respect to the regulated health professional in question .
8 . If the patient has retracted his or her allegation of sexual abuse , do I still have to make a report ? Your duty to report arises when you have reasonable grounds to believe another regulated health professional has sexually abused a patient . If your belief was triggered by information provided by a patient who then retracts the allegation , the question is whether you still have reasonable grounds to believe the abuse occurred . In some cases , you will no longer have reasonable grounds to believe the abuse occurred . However , since there are many reasons that a patient who has been sexually abused by a health professional may retract an allegation , in some circumstances , you may still reasonably believe the abuse occurred . In those cases , you must still make a report to the appropriate college . MD
Need more information ? Read our Mandatory and Permissive Reporting policy for guidance . The policy is available on the College ’ s website at www . cpso . on . ca
For more information , please phone our Physician Advisory Service at 416-967-2606 or toll-free 1-800-268- 7096 , Ext . 606 .
Issue 4 , 2016 Dialogue 39