Complaints and discipline under the Health Professions and Occupations Act

The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) protects the public from harm by enhancing the complaints and discipline process against regulated health professionals.

On this page

• About the complaints and discipline process
• Anti-Indigenous racism and other forms of discrimination
• Sexual misconduct and sexual abuse

About the complaints and discipline process

An important aspect of health profession regulation is ensuring that health professionals and their regulators are accountable to the public. If you have a concern about a regulated health professional or a regulatory college, you can submit a complaint.

Learn more about the complaints and discipline process under the HPOA:

• Regulatory colleges receive complaints about regulated health professionals and conduct investigations
• The Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office takes complaints about the regulatory colleges and the HPOA
• The Discipline Tribunal is responsible for the discipline process for regulated health professionals

Note: The ministry does not have the authority to initiate or intervene in an investigation or complaint regarding the conduct of regulated health professionals.

Anti-Indigenous racism and other forms of discrimination

The HPOA defines what constitutes discrimination by regulated health professionals. 

For more information on what constitutes discrimination, please view section 9 of the HPOA. 

Safeguards against discrimination include: 

• Discrimination is recognized as professional misconduct and is defined in the Human Rights Code to include Indigenous identity and race 
• Support programs are provided by regulatory colleges to support individuals experiencing discrimination by a regulated health professional
• Anti-discrimination measures must be taken by health professionals and those who regulate them
• Complaints and discipline processes recognize Indigenous practices, including restorative processes for resolving disputes
• Meaningful consultation must occur with Indigenous governing bodies or other Indigenous entities regarding anti-discrimination, bylaws and cultural safety

For more information on the HPOA as it relates to section 3 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, please visit the Declaration website.

For more information on the guiding principles of the HPOA visit the HPOA webpage.

Sexual misconduct and sexual abuse

The HPOA defines what constitutes both sexual misconduct and sexual abuse by regulated health professionals. 

For more information on what constitutes sexual misconduct or sexual abuse, please view section 8 of the HPOA. 

Safeguards against sexual misconduct and abuse include: 

• Providing support services for victims of alleged sexual misconduct or sexual abuse
• Requiring regulatory colleges to make bylaws respecting ethical standards, including preventing and responding to sexual misconduct and sexual abuse
• Requiring employers to report staff sexual misconduct or abuse to the appropriate regulatory college