OPSDT

The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal (OPSDT) is the independent tribunal that adjudicates allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence against Ontario physicians. It replaced the CPSO Discipline Committee on September 1, 2021 and now operates as part of the Health Professions Discipline Tribunals group, which shares a common set of rules and processes across several Ontario health colleges.

Allegations are referred to the OPSDT by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario after investigation by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee. The Tribunal’s findings and penalties, which can include reprimand, conditions on a certificate of registration, suspension, or revocation, are public and searchable on the OPSDT website. Decisions are subject to judicial review and, in some cases, statutory appeal.

OPSDT proceedings are regulatory rather than civil. They do not provide compensation to patients. However, the underlying conduct in many discipline cases overlaps with the kinds of clinical failures that also support medical malpractice claims, and the Tribunal’s reasons can be a useful source of information for patients considering a civil action.

Posts tagged OPSDT analyze recent discipline decisions involving Ontario physicians, with attention to the clinical context, the penalty imposed, and the implications for patient safety.