Sexual abuse review
Much of March’s Council meeting was devoted to discussing the College’s own practices and
processes in supporting patients who were sexually abused by physicians.
Supporting and Protecting
Patients from Sexual Abuse
Council discusses some of the early opportunities for change
photo: D.W. Dorken
I
determine how to improve support and protect has been more than 20 years since the
tion for patients.
Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)
“As part of our ongoing efforts to advocate
was passed, with its specific provisions
for the best practices for protecting patients
related to sexual abuse. Since the 1991
from sexual abuse, we must
amendments, this College has
continually evaluate the envimaintained a strong stance in
“We must continually
ronment in which we operate
opposition to sexual abuse by
evaluate the environment and ensure that we are doing
physicians and in support of
victims of sexual abuse.
in which we operate and all that we can,” Dr. Carol
But are we doing all that we
ensure that we are doing Leet, College President, told
Council.
can to support and protect
all that we can”
Over the last few years,
patients? In December 2014,
questions have been raised –
Council reaffirmed the Colboth inside and outside of the College’s walls –
lege’s commitment to patients by unanimously
about whether the legislation has kept pace with
voting to review whether changes can be made.
societal expectations. For example, questions
Council directed that our review have a dual
such as whether the penalties handed down by
focus: an examination of our own processes
the College’s Discipline Committee are suffiand practices, and an evaluation of the sexual
ciently severe; whether gender-based restrictions
abuse provisions in our governing legislation to
Issue 1, 2015 Dialogue
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2015-03-19 11:18 AM