Making a report
Duty to report under the Health Professions and Occupations Act
Sections 83-89 of the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) set out the circumstances where a licensee (and in some cases a non-licensee) has a legal duty to report another licensee to that licensee’s regulatory college. The purpose is to ensure public protection in cases where a licensee:
- may present risk to the public,
- has committed misconduct, or
- has acted in discriminatory, or abusive ways, or has committed an act of sexual misconduct or sexual abuse.
The BC Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in medical services against people who belong to certain protected groups, including those characterized by race, ancestry, colour, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, family status, place of origin, marital status, and age.
Report a licensee’s conduct, competence, or sexual abuse
You may contact a deputy registrar prior to making your formal report. Call 604-733-7758 or email communications@cpsbc.ca
Steps for making a formal report
- Prepare your report
- Identify yourself and the licensee in question.
- State the beliefs or observations for your concern, and specify the risk presented by the licensee.
- Where your report concerns a licensee’s health (in relation to addiction, hospitalization, psychiatric care, etc.), see the Licensee Health Reports
- Provide any supporting documentation or materials (records, correspondence).
- Provide the names of any other licensees, clinics, hospitals, or health authorities involved.
- If you are making a report on behalf of a colleague/third party and did not witness the conduct directly, include any statements from the person(s) who witnessed the conduct.
- Indicate if you have taken or intend to take any action such as termination of employment, suspension or revocation of privileges, etc.
- Submit the report to a deputy registrar at CPSBC
- Once you believe you have reasonable grounds for your report, please submit your written report in a timely manner.
- You may submit your report by mail or email to complaints@cpsbc.ca
- Be available to assist
- You may be contacted if additional information or documentation is required.
Under the HPOA, patient consent is not required in order to make a report under these sections.
Report concerns about a licensee’s health
CPSBC licensees have an ethical and legal responsibility to notify CPSBC if they or a colleague have a health issue that impairs their fitness to practise.