Lawyers for Physiotherapists
As trusted physiotherapist lawyers, we have experience representing physiotherapists in Ontario in regulatory, litigation, clinical and risk issues, including those with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (the “CPO”), the Human Rights Commission and the Information and Privacy Commissioner. We help physiotherapists navigate the legal landscape governing the practice of physiotherapy in Ontario, including under the Physiotherapy Act.
If you have a complaint, investigation or disciplinary matter before the CPO, it is important to get legal advice from a physiotherapist complaint lawyer or physiotherapist discipline lawyer to evaluate your risk and help you manage your response. This is especially important because many forms of remediation ordered by the CPO remain on a physiotherapist’s public register indefinitely. We are physiotherapy defence lawyers who assist on all types of CPO matters, including clinical issues, billing issues, communication issues, recordkeeping issues and boundary violations.
We work with insurance companies covering Ontario physiotherapists and also routinely represent physiotherapists 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 physiotherapist complaints. We represent physiotherapists across the province of Ontario,, including in Toronto and the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Brampton, Barrie, Kingston and Thunder Bay.
Legal Services for Physiotherapists
Responding on behalf of physiotherapists to CPO patient complaints before the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (“ICRC”) of the CPO;
Facilitating proactive courses or Specific Continuing Education or Remediation Programs (“SCERP”) for physiotherapists ordered by the CPO;
Responding for physiotherapists to CPO section 75 investigations before the ICRC;
Responding to disciplinary matters and allegations of professional misconduct for physiotherapists before the Discipline Committee of the CPO;
Responding to registration issues for physiotherapists before the Registration Committee of the CPO or guiding physiotherapists on their application for licensure in other provinces/countries;
Defending allegations for physiotherapy students on testing irregularity and cheating on the Ontario Clinical Exam (the “OCE”);
Responding to appeals and judicial reviews for physiotherapists 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 physiotherapists and physiotherapy clinics to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario regarding discrimination and human rights violations;
Responding to complaints against physiotherapists and physiotherapy clinics before the Information and Privacy Commissioner;
Responding on behalf of physiotherapists to CPO Fitness to Practice matters;
Assisting physiotherapists in managing a challenging patient, including harassment and assault, and terminating the physiotherapist-patient relationship;
Navigating clinical issues for physiotherapists, including privacy breaches, physiotherapist malpractice allegations, recordkeeping issues and patient demands;
Navigating billing issues for physiotherapists, including insurance company inquiries and audits;
Navigating compliance for physiotherapists with CPO Rules, Standards and Resources;
Assisting physiotherapists in responding to the annual CPO report regarding past criminal and regulatory issues; and
Representing physiotherapists and physiotherapy clinics in workplace investigations.
Need help with any of the above? We are physiotherapy attorneys, so don’t hesitate to contact John McIntyre for a free consultation at john@mcintyre-szabo.com or through the website here.