A complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is the formal mechanism by which a patient or member of the public raises a concern about a physician’s conduct or competence. Complaints are investigated by the College’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, which can dismiss the complaint, provide advice or guidance, require remediation, impose interim or continuing terms, or refer the matter to the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal for a hearing.
The complaints process is regulatory. Its purpose is to protect the public and govern the profession, not to compensate the patient. A patient who has suffered injury from negligent care must pursue a civil claim separately, and the outcome of a complaint does not determine the outcome of a lawsuit. A complaint decision can, however, be a useful early source of information about what happened and about the regulator’s view of the relevant standard of practice.
Posts tagged CPSO Complaints analyze decisions and processes arising from the College’s complaints stream and their relationship to civil medical malpractice claims.
A practical guide to filing complaints about medical care in Ontario, from hospital patient relations and the Patient Ombudsman to the regulatory colleges and the Office of the Chief Coroner.
A defendant physician accessed his former patient’s hospital records during litigation. The Divisional Court remitted the CPSO disposition for reconsideration.
Free, confidential consultations. Paul reviews every potential case personally and tells you honestly whether it merits investigation.