Submitting a Complaint Against a Chiropodist or Podiatrist in Ontario

The College regulates the practice of chiropody and podiatry in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), the Chiropody Act and its regulations, and College by-laws. The College was established to protect the public, register applicants and set standards to ensure that chiropodists and podiatrists (referred to as registrant/member herein after) provide competent and safe foot care.

If you have concerns about the care you have received from an Ontario chiropodist or podiatrist and wish to submit a formal complaint with the College, please watch the following videos that are aimed to help you and provide a general overview of the process. 

How to Submit a Complaint 

The Complaints Process

The Complaint Process
The formal process for investigation of a complaint is outlined in the RHPA. Each step of the process is designed to ensure fairness to both the person filing the complaint, and the member who is named in the complaint. Every complaint that is received by the College is thoroughly and objectively investigated.
What should I do if I have a problem with my chiropodist or podiatrist?
Patients are encouraged to discuss the problem with the member; perhaps it could be resolved. If you still have concerns, please contact the College.
Guidelines for Submitting a Complaint
If you wish to proceed with a complaint, send us your complaint in writing by mail or through the online form below. We cannot accept a complaint by telephone.

We will need to have the following information:

  • The name of the chiropodist or podiatrist
  • The reason(s) complaint
  • Details about the specific incident(s) including, if possible, dates and
    locations
  • Your name, address and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day
The Investigation
We investigate all complaints. When the College receives your complaint, a copy is forwarded to the member who then has 30 days to submit a written response to the College. You will generally have an opportunity to review the response and to make any further comments.

Your complaint is fully and impartially investigated. This investigation includes written submissions from both you and the member. Any other health care practitioner who has treated you, or consulted on your treatment, may be contacted as well as any witnesses.

An investigator may also formally get in touch with both parties, insurance companies and witnesses.

As part of this process, we usually request relevant patient records, x-rays, and other information from the member.

The member has the duty to co-operate fully with the investigation.

The Registrar may, with consent of both the complainant and the member, refer the complainant and the member to an alternative dispute resolution process (see more detail below).

The Panel
After the investigation is complete and all of the supporting documentation is received, College staff will present the complete file to the College’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) which will consider your complaint. The mandate of this Committee is outlined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and the Health Professions Procedural Code. The Committee members include chiropodists, podiatrists and members of the public who are appointed by the Provincial Government to represent the views of the public.

The ICRC may also engage a College expert to assist and give an opinion. The ICRC itself does not meet with witnesses or the parties to the complaint. Rather, it reviews all written documentation. The Committee then makes a decision based on the documentation placed before it.

Whereas the College endeavours to complete its investigation within 150 days from the day it is received, this is not always possible. Whenever an extension may be necessary, the parties will be notified. They will be given reasons for the delay and a proposed new date for completion.

What a Panel of the ICRC Can Do
There are a number of options available to the Committee under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991(RHPA) and the Health Professions Procedural Code.

After a thorough review of the complaint, the submissions of the member, as well as making reasonable efforts to consider all records and documents it considers relevant to the complaint, the Panel may do any one or more of the following:

  • Take no action
  • Require a member to appear before a Panel of the Inquiries, Complaints and Report Committee to be cautioned
  • Require a member to complete a specified continuing education or remediation program
  • Refer a specified allegation of the member’s professional misconduct or incompetence to the Discipline Committee if the allegation is related to the complaint or report
  • Refer the member to a panel of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee for incapacity proceedings
  • Take action it considers appropriate that is not inconsistent with the Regulated Health Professions Act
Note: The ICRC does not have the authority to require a member to refund money or pay compensation to a complainant.
Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee Risk Assessment Framework
The College of Chiropodists of Ontario’s Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee (ICRC) investigates public complaints and information received through reports regarding concerns related to professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity. As part of its commitment to fairness and transparency, the College has created the ICRC Risk Assessment Framework tool. This tool is designed to help guide panels in their assessment of complaints and reports, allowing for fair, consistent and transparent decisions. It is a tool intended to support panels and is used to complement the skills and knowledge each panel member brings.

The ICRC Risk Assessment Framework tool separates risk into four categories – high, moderate, low and minimal. Depending on the information gathered during the investigation, the risk assessment tool helps panels measure its level of concern for a number of clinical and/or practice issues including:

  • patient harm/patient safety
  • clinical knowledge/understanding
  • clinical skill/execution
  • professional judgment/decision making
  • record keeping
  • informed consent
  • communication/patient relations
  • billing issues
  • scope of practice

Panels may also consider other facts, including:

  • proactive remediation/willingness to address issues
  • insight/reflection
  • dishonesty/breach of trust
  • prior history
  • effect on public interest/confidence
  • one time incident vs. pattern of conduct
  • governability
  • wilfulness/awareness/level of control
  • cooperation with the College

The ICRC Risk Assessment Framework tool is available here.

Decision and Reasons
The Panel of the ICRC will send the complainant and the member a written copy of its decision and reasons for the decision. The parties will also receive notice of their right to request a review of the decision by the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (except for decisions that are referred to discipline or incapacity proceedings).
Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”)
This is a voluntary and confidential program for the resolution of some complaints by a negotiated settlement, as an alternative to the formal investigation process. ADR is not suitable for all complaints. College staff will decide if your complaint is appropriate for ADR. Both you and the member must agree to participate for ADR to proceed.

In ADR, a facilitator will work with you and the member to resolve the issues in a manner that is agreeable to both of you. The facilitator is a neutral person, not a member of the College’s staff or a College committee. If, for some reason, the ADR process does not result in a negotiated agreement, your complaint will be processed in the usual way through the normal complaints process.

Submit a Complaint Form Online

    A) PERSON SUBMITTING THE CONCERN:

    * required information

    Last Name *

    First Name *

    Home Address *

    City *

    Province *

    Postal Code *

    Country

    Home Phone *

    Mobile Phone

    Email *

    B) CHIROPODIST OR PODIATRIST WHO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT:


    Last Name *

    First Name *

    COCOO Registration # (if possible)

    C) DETAILS OF YOUR CONCERNS:


    Where did you see the Chiropodist or Podiatrist? *
    HospitalClinicPatient’s HomeOther

    Please provide the name and address of the facility/institution:

    Please provide a detailed outline of your concern(s). *

    Are there other people who witnessed this? *
    YesNo


    D) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    By clicking "Submit" I understand that I am filing a formal complaint against the Chiropodist/Podiatrist mentioned in section B.

    Submit a Complaint By Mail

    Complaints should be directed and addressed to the College’s Registrar. For contact and mailing address information, click here.

    Contact Information
    If you wish to speak with someone about your complaint please contact the College office. Contact information can found on our contact us page (click here).
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