PROTECTING
Over the past two years, the
College has made substantial
improvements to our processes and
practices to ensure that individual
patients and the broader public are
protected from sexual abuse by
physicians. These include:
We produced a video featuring College staff member Pam
Greenberg, who provides support to patients.
Enhancing Support of Patients and Access to Information
reating the What to Expect During Medical Encounters document for patients, which focuses
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on patient rights and the duties and obligations that physicians owe their patients;
reating the brochure Reporting Sexual Abuse – Do You Think Your Doctor Crossed the Line?,
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available in 11 languages, to help patients to understand why it’s important to report possible
sexual abuse – and what patients can expect when they do;
reating a video for patients, introducing our victim support staff, the first point of contact at
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the College for anyone thinking about making a sexual abuse complaint against an Ontario
doctor;
Offering
all witnesses who are likely to testify in a College discipline hearing with independent
legal advice, where the testimony would relate to sexual misconduct by a physician.
Improving Processes and Practices
eveloping a policy which sets out the circumstances in which the College may exercise our
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discretion to share information with the police about physicians who may have committed a
criminal act;
reating a specialized panel of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, which con-
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siders submissions by College counsel seeking post-discipline referral penalty instructions
and settlement proposals, to ensure validity and consistency;
eveloping a plan to improve and expand upon education and training for the profession,
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medical trainees, College Council and Committee members on matters relating to sexual
abuse of patients by physicians.
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COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF ONTARIO