Registrar’s Investigations and Reports
Separate from the complaints process, the Registrar can appoint an investigator if there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a registrant (chiropodist or podiatrist) has committed an act(s) of professional misconduct or is incompetent.
What initiates a Registrar’s investigation?
Concerns about a chiropodist or podiatrist’s conduct or competence can trigger a Registrar’s Investigation and Report. Information can come from:
- Other chiropodists, podiatrists or regulated health professionals, by way of mandatory reporting;
- Quality Assurance (QA) Committee, where risks to the public are identified because of a chiropodist or podiatrist not participating in the QA process or where the QA assessment reveals significant concerns;
- Members of the public who do not wish to make a formal complaint;
- Insurance companies;
- Criminal investigations;
- Public Health Unit investigations;
The Registrar will determine if an investigation is warranted and take action, if needed. The College will continue an investigation even if the complainant chooses to disengage from the process.
Emergencies
The Registrar also has the power to order an immediate investigation in an emergency situation where a chiropodist or podiatrist’s conduct:
- exposes or is likely to expose patients to harm or injury;
- there is insufficient time to seek approval of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC).
What happens when the Registrar appoints an investigator?
The investigation process is similar to the formal regulatory complaints process. The chiropodist or podiatrist will receive notice of the Registrar’s Report, along with the results of the investigation. The chiropodist or podiatrist will be provided with an opportunity to make a written response to the College. The results of the investigation are brought to the attention of the ICRC. A panel of the ICRC reviews the Registrar’s Report and has the power to take one or more of the following actions:
- Take no action.
- Provide the registrant with advice.
- Ask the registrant to enter into a voluntary remedial agreement.
- Ask the registrant to enter into a voluntary undertaking to resign or to restrict his or her practice.
- Require the chiropodist or podiatrist to complete a Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERP).
- Require the chiropodist or podiatrist to appear before the panel in person to receive a caution.
- Refer specified allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence to the Discipline Committee.
- Refer the registrant to a panel of the ICRC for incapacity proceedings.