• address the dispensing of assistive devices that may have been prescribed by another health professional;
• emphasize that members must have achieved, maintain and be able to demonstrate clinical competency to prescribe and dispense assistive devices, consistent with standards for the use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures;
• communicate that the dispensing of assistive devices is an adjunct to chiropractic care; and
• update examples of assistive devices.

How this Affects Members

Members who prescribe and/or dispense assistive devices must ensure that there has been a thorough examination and diagnosis or clinical impression that would indicate the benefit of the assistive device for the patient, consistent with the chiropractic scope of practice. This would apply whether the examination was conducted by the member or another health professional.

As with any use of diagnosis or therapeutic procedure, a member who prescribes or dispenses assistive devices must ensure that they have achieved, maintain and are able to demonstrate clinical competency in the examination, prescription and dispensing of assistive devices.

Minor Amendments to Policy P-011: Conflict of Interest for Council and Non-Council Committee Members

Summary of Amendments

CCO Council approved minor amendments that require Council and non-Council committee members serving on a Discipline or Fitness to Practise panel to disclose any professional or personal connection, including a connection on social media, to a member who is before the panel. This disclosure will then be assessed for any real or perceived conflict of interest.

How this Affects Members

Members serving on CCO Discipline or Fitness to Practise panels must consider any real or perceived conflict of interest that may arise through a professional or personal connection to a member before a panel.

Minor Amendments to Policy P-045: CCO’s Legislation and Ethics Examination

Summary of Amendments

CCO Council approved minor amendments to reflect the practice of offering the Legislation and Ethics Examination three times per year in conjunction with the Record Keeping Workshop.

How this Affects Members

Prospective members and applicants for registration should consult the CCO website for the date and location of any upcoming examinations.

Minor Amendments to Policy P-050: Supervision and Direction of Chiropractors in Training

Summary of Amendments

CCO Council approved minor amendments to establish principles for the supervision of chiropractic students in practice, including prioritizing:

• safe and effective chiropractic care
• proper training
• joint decision-making
• the exchange of information; and
• the demonstration of professionalism.

How this Affects Members

Members who participate in an accredited chiropractic program’s preceptorship program must ensure they have reviewed and comply with Policy P-050.

Minor Amendments to Guideline G-008: Business Practices

Summary of Amendments

CCO Council approved minor amendments to:

• use the term “billing arrangements” to include any fee arrangement where the patient is charged for multiple services and/or treatments at any time other than when the services and/or treatments are provided;
• ensure that any billing arrangement reflects the plan and nature of care, the patient’s objectives, goals, requests, comfort level and understanding;
• prohibit a member from subjecting a patient to any undue pressure, duress or coercion to agree to a billing arrangement or suggesting that refusing a billing arrangement will affect the quality of care;
• ensure there are protections for the patient to receive a refund for any unused portion of the billing arrangement in case of bankruptcy, death, dissolution of practice and other incidences which may interrupt a course of care; and
• respect and comply with a patient’s request to pay for each service as it is provided.

CCO continues to review Guideline G-008: Business Practices.

How this Affects Members

Members who offer any billing arrangements other than fee for service must ensure that they have read and comply with Guideline G-008: Business Practices. The safe and ethical care of patients must always be paramount to any billing arrangement.

Minor Amendments to Guideline G-009: Code of Ethics

Summary of Amendments

CCO Council approved minor amendments to: 

• ensure the anti-discrimination provisions of the Code of Ethics are consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code; and
• emphasize that as part of being an ethical chiropractor, a member is required to clearly communicate to patients practices relating to fees and business practices and not apply pressure or duress to patients to agree to any billing arrangement or treatment plan.

How this Affects Members

Chiropractors have been granted the privilege of self-regulation, a privilege that obliges them to act competently and ethically in the practice of chiropractic to ensure public trust, collaboration with colleagues and the integrity and dignity of the profession. The Code of Ethics outlines may of those responsibilities to patients and the public, professional colleagues and CCO.