Lawyers for Optometrists

As trusted optometrist lawyers, we represent optometrists in Ontario in regulatory, litigation, clinical and risk issues, including those with the College of Optometrists of Ontario (the “COO”), the Human Rights Tribunal and the Information and Privacy Commissioner. We help optometrists navigate the legal landscape governing the practice of optometry in Ontario, including under the Optometry Act, 1991.

If you have a complaint, investigation or disciplinary matter before the COO, it is important to get legal advice from a optometrist complaint lawyer or optometrist discipline lawyer to evaluate your risk and help you manage your response. This is especially important because many forms of remediation ordered by the COO remain on a optometrist’s public register indefinitely. We are optometrist defence lawyers who assist on all types of COO matters, including clinical issues, billing issues, communication issues, recordkeeping issues and boundary violations/sexual assault allegations.

We work with insurance companies covering Ontario optometrists and also represent optometrists directly who do not have coverage for regulatory matters. We typically offer our clients the choice of an hourly rate or flat fee for these regulatory matters, especially for optometrist complaints. We represent optometrists across the province of Ontario, including in Toronto and the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Brampton, Barrie, Kingston and Thunder Bay.

Legal Services for Optometrists

  • Responding on behalf of optometrists to COO patient complaints before the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (“ICRC”) of the COO;

  • Facilitating proactive courses or Specific Continuing Education or Remediation Programs (“SCERP”) for optometrists ordered by the COO;

  • Responding for optometrists to COO section 75 investigations before the ICRC;

  • Responding to disciplinary matters and allegations of professional misconduct for optometrists before the Discipline Committee of the COO;

  • Responding to registration issues for optometrists before the Registration Committee of the COO or guiding optometrists on their application for licensure in other provinces/countries;

  • Defending allegations for optometrist students on testing irregularity and cheating on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (the “NBEO”) exam;

  • Responding to appeals and judicial reviews for optometrists before the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (“HPARB”), the Divisional Court of Ontario or the Court of Appeal for Ontario;

  • Responding to complaints made against optometrists and optometry clinics to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario regarding discrimination and human rights violations;

  • Responding to complaints against optometrists and optometry clinics before the Information and Privacy Commissioner;

  • Responding on behalf of optometrists to COO Fitness to Practice matters;

  • Assisting optometrists in managing a challenging patient, including harassment and assault, and terminating the optometrist-patient relationship;

  • Navigating clinical issues for optometrists, including privacy breaches, optometrist malpractice allegations, recordkeeping issues and patient demands;

  • Navigating billing issues for optometrists, including insurance company inquiries and audits;

  • Navigating compliance for optometrists with COO Standards of Practice;

  • Assisting optometrists in responding to the annual COO report regarding past criminal and regulatory issues; and

  • Representing optometrists in workplace investigations.

Need help with any of the above? We are optometrist attorneys, so don’t hesitate to contact John McIntyre for a free consultation at john@mcintyre-szabo.com or through the website here.