What to expect after an investigation

Our goal is to protect the health and safety of patients. We help a physician or surgeon improve their practice if they don’t meet the CPSBC practice standards. The goal is to help prevent similar situations from happening again.

The decision letter may require the physician or surgeon to do the following:

attend an interview to discuss the matter in more detail
take educational courses
sign a commitment to improve their future practice
receive a formal reprimand
have restrictions placed on their practice
attend a public CPSBC hearing
have their licence taken away in extreme circumstances

The Inquiry Committee may choose to launch a more general investigation and do a more detailed review. A copy of the decision is placed on the physician or surgeon’s permanent CPSBC record regardless of the complaint’s outcome.

How to appeal a decision

The Health Professions Review Board (HPRB) can independently review certain decisions. A person filing a complaint can apply for a HPRB review if they believe the investigation was inadequate or if they disagree with a decision.

Complaint form

Authorization for representation form

Complaint process diagram