If CCO receives a complaint about a member, the College will notify the member by letter outlining the complaint and the complaints process. The member is required to submit a response to the complaint to the College within 30 days. It is advisable for members to contact their professional liability insurance provider or protective association upon receipt of a letter of complaint, for further advice on responding. A copy of the member’s response will be forwarded to the complainant.
Appointment of Investigators
Members are expected to cooperate with investigators appointed on behalf of CCO’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC). An investigator has the power to:
- Inquire into and examine the practice of the member
- Enter the business premises of the member at any reasonable time and examine anything relevant found there
- Access relevant patient personal health information records
Dispositions from the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports
The ICRC issues its decision in writing and may take any of the following actions:
- refer specified allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence to the Discipline Committee for a hearing
- initiate an inquiry into the member’s capacity
- require the member to appear before the ICRC to be cautioned
- require the member to undergo a specified continuing education or remediation program
- require the member to sign an undertaking
- take any other action it considers appropriate consistent with the RHPA, CCO regulations or by-laws.
In accordance with the RHPA, if the ICRC requires the member to appear before its panel to be cautioned, or requires the member to undergo continuing education or remediation, or to sign an undertaking, this information will be put on the public register.
