Preventing and Addressing Sexual Abuse of Patients April 2015 | Page 4
background
In 1991, the CPSO Council established a Task Force to make recommendations to deal effectively with
the societal problem of sexual abuse of patients. On December 12, 1991, all parties in the Legislature
approved a private members’ resolution initiated by the Member for Parry Sound which supported the
findings and major recommendations of the College Task Force Final Report (released in November
1991), including the recommendation of a mandatory revocation of the certificate of registration for a
health professional found guilty of sexual violation of a patient.
This led to the introduction in November 1992 of Bill 100 – the Regulated Health Professions Amendment
Act, 1992. Bill 100 provided for a number of amendments to the RHPA to address the pressing problem of
sexually abusive conduct by health professionals towards their patients. Bill 100 contained the following
key provisions:
• definition of “sexual abuse” which included sexual intercourse or other forms of physical sexual
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relations, touching of a sexual nature, and behaviour or remakes of a sexual nature between a health
professional and a patient;
• Mandatory reporting of sexual abuse by regulated health professionals;
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Mandatory development of measures to prevent and deal with sexual abuse by Patient Relations
Committees in each professional college, who have a legislative mandate to educate members,
set out guidelines for conduct of members with their patients, train college staff, and provide
information to the public;
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New procedural powers and more effective protection for and participation by sexual abuse
witnesses in discipline hearings;
• requirement that each college establish a program to provide funding for therapy and counselling
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for patients who were sexually abused by practitioners; and
Measures taken by the CPSO
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