The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is the principal medico-legal defence organization for physicians practising in Canada. It is not a conventional insurance company. It is a mutual not-for-profit organization, controlled by its physician members, that provides legal representation, indemnification for damages, and risk management resources to most Canadian physicians and surgeons. In medical malpractice litigation in Ontario, the overwhelming majority of physician defendants are represented by CMPA-retained counsel.
The CMPA’s resources and the depth of its experience defending these cases are significant features of the legal landscape on the plaintiff side. CMPA-retained counsel are typically specialized medical defence lawyers, often supported by detailed expert networks and substantial investigative budgets. Plaintiffs and their counsel must approach medical malpractice litigation with the understanding that the defence will be well-funded and experienced.
CMPA membership fees in Ontario are partially reimbursed to physicians through a long-standing arrangement with the Ministry of Health, which has been the subject of periodic public discussion. Whatever one’s view of the policy question, the practical effect on individual claims is that the CMPA is a permanent fixture of medical malpractice practice in Ontario.
Posts tagged CMPA analyze Ontario decisions and broader policy questions involving the CMPA’s role in defending and managing medical malpractice claims.
Some of the most common beliefs about medical malpractice in Ontario are simply wrong, and they cut both ways: pushing some people toward hopeless claims and others away from good ones. Here are the misunderstandings I see most often, set against how the law actually works, from what counts as negligence to limitation periods, College complaints, causation, and the cap on damages.
Yes, you can sue for medical malpractice in Ontario. The harder question is whether you should. After two decades of these cases, the candid advice for many prospective clients is to think very carefully before going forward, and in some cases, not to go forward at all.
How plaintiff PI firms build long-term strategy and growth. From the 2026 LIF webinar Defining a Winning Business Strategy for Your PI Firm.
Most medical malpractice consultations in Ontario don’t result in lawsuits. An honest look at the four barriers that shape case evaluation in this province.
Medical malpractice as an intervening act in MVA cases. A Baines v Abounaja analysis from Paul’s 2025 LSO Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit presentation.
How plaintiff-side PI practice works as a business: case screening, partnerships, and resourcing. From a 2024 Legal Innovation Forum panel.
A look at the most recent CMPA and CIHI data on medical malpractice, hospital harm, and what the numbers actually say about patient safety in Canada.
A practical guide to choosing a medical malpractice lawyer in Ontario. Specialization, trial experience, clinical depth, credentials, and honest case screening.
Yes, but the harder question is whether your situation supports a viable claim. An honest threshold assessment for Ontario patients considering legal action.
Why screening medical malpractice cases matters at intake, and what to recommend patients when civil litigation is not economical. From a 2021 CLE panel.
Expert evidence, defence resourcing, and high-risk ER scenarios shape Ontario medical malpractice cases. From OTLA’s 2020 medical malpractice conference.
Why expert selection drives outcomes in Ontario medical malpractice cases. Paul Cahill on finding the right expert from an OTLA webinar.
Free, confidential consultations. Paul reviews every potential case personally and tells you honestly whether it merits investigation.