Duty to Report Health Professionals for Podiatrists
Professional Standards and Guidelines Regarding Duty to Report Health Professionals for Podiatrists
Preamble
When a podiatrist has reasonable grounds to believe that another health professional is impaired, incompetent, or unethical, there is a professional obligation to report this concern to the College. The obligation arises regardless of whether the health professional in question is a patient or a colleague.
Similarly, podiatrists with good reason to believe a regulated health professional outside the jurisdiction of the College is impaired, incompetent or unethical, there is a professional obligation to report these concerns to the appropriate regulatory authority.
These obligations arise from a responsibility to uphold patient safety and to protect the integrity of the health professions. Reporting to the College is not the same as filing a complaint. Podiatrists meet the duty to report by advising the College, either in writing or by telephone, of the following: their name, the name of the health professional about whom they have concerns, and the specific concern about that health professional. It is for the College to determine whether further investigative steps are required.
Podiatrists should contact legal counsel for advice when considering their reporting obligations in any specific circumstances.
Professional Standards
- Podiatrists must immediately notify the College or the appropriate regulatory body upon forming reasonable grounds to believe that another health professional is or may be putting patients or their profession at risk due to incompetence, professional misconduct, incapacity, or conduct unbecoming. This duty to notify arises regardless of whether the health professional in question is a patient or a colleague.
- Podiatrists must immediately notify the College upon becoming aware that their own health may be affecting their ability to safely practice medicine.
Guidelines
- Reporting
Reporting a situation intended to protect patient safety or uphold the regulation of the health profession is a podiatrist’s professional obligation. A podiatrist who breaches this duty may be subject to disciplinary measures by the College. Common law generally protects health professionals against liability in reporting colleagues. This protection would typically prohibit a legal action against a reporting podiatrist when their report is made on reasonable grounds and in good faith, without malice.
The College’s approach to matters related to a podiatrist’s health are viewed through a treatment and/or rehabilitation lens aimed at supporting wellness. Podiatrists with health conditions are managed independently of the complaints or discipline process whenever possible.
If a podiatrist is reported to the College because of a possible health condition including an addiction, the College may require an assessment and will help the podiatrist access whatever supports are appropriate.
Guiding Examples
Situations that could place patients at risk:
- Appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work
- Pattern of unsafe care or poor judgement
- Repeated patient errors
- Pattern of poor record keeping and documentation
- Sexual misconduct with current patient or vulnerable patient
- Evidence of cognitive defects or signs of dementia
- Serious mental health concerns e.g. manic behavior
- Falsifying patient records
Overprescribing opioids or prescribing opioids without appropriate review of the NSPMP Program and/or appropriate documentation
Definitions
Incapacity means a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition, disorder or addiction that renders or rendered the health professional unable to practice with competence, or that may endanger or has endangered the health or safety of individuals.
Incompetence means the lack of competence in the health professional’s care of an individual or delivery of medical services that rendered them unsafe to practice or that renders them unsafe to continue in practice without remedial assistance.
Professional misconduct means conduct or acts in the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonorable, or unprofessional.
Conduct unbecoming means conduct outside the practice of medicine that tends to bring discredit upon the medical profession.
(Nova Scotia Medical Act, 2011)
Document History
First approved by the Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia: March 21, 2025