About the college
Medical Regulation in Ontario
2
and the Medicine Act.
The Council is the governing body of the College. The RHPA stipulates that it consist of at least
32 and no more than 34 members:
• 16 physicians elected by their peers on a geographical basis every three years;
• three physicians appointed from among the six
faculties of medicine (at Western University,
McMaster University, University of Toronto,
Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, and
the Northern Ontario School of Medicine);
• 15 non-physician or public members appointed
by the provincial government for terms decided
by the government.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF ONTARIO
photo: D.W.Dorken
T
he College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) regulates
the province’s medical profession to
protect and serve the public interest.
We issue certificates of registration to allow doctors to practise medicine; monitor and maintain
standards of practice through assessment; investigate complaints against doctors on behalf of the
public; and discipline doctors who have committed an act of professional misconduct or who are
incompetent.
Medical regulation is based on the premise that
the College must act first and foremost in the
interest of the public. The role of the College, as
well as our authority and powers, are set out in
the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), the
Health Professions Procedural Code under the RHPA