Jennifer Da Ponte

The registrant massage therapist pleaded no contest to allegations of sexually abusing a patient, including touching her genitals, breasts, and buttocks without consent.

The Discipline Tribunal found that the registrant committed professional misconduct, including sexual abuse and physical abuse.

Given the nature of the sexual abuse, the Tribunal imposed the mandatory penalty of revocation of the registrant's certificate of registration and a reprimand, along with orders for costs and reimbursement for patient therapy and counselling.

The Member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for engaging in inappropriate communications of a personal and sexual nature with female colleagues, creating a poisoned work environment.

The Member pled guilty and admitted to the facts.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of professional misconduct, including disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a two-month suspension of the Member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, and the completion of a course on appropriate communication and professional boundaries.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against the Member for professional misconduct.

The Member pleaded no contest to allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted a former student at his home in 2002.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional, and unbecoming conduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered that the Member be reprimanded and that his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be immediately revoked, finding the conduct abhorrent and a gross violation of trust.

The Member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct relating to inappropriate communication and professional boundaries with colleagues.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Penalty.

The Member was reprimanded, suspended for two months, and ordered to complete a course on professional boundaries.

The registrant pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct, including sexual and physical abuse of a client during massage therapy treatments.

The Tribunal found the registrant committed professional misconduct based on uncontested facts and a criminal conviction for assault.

The registrant resigned and undertook never to reapply for registration.

The Tribunal accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and costs of $5,110.

A discipline panel found the registrant committed professional misconduct by failing to maintain required client and financial records, issuing or permitting false massage therapy receipts, and providing false or inadequate information to insurers investigating benefit claims.

The panel held that deficient record keeping jeopardizes client protection, insurer verification, and confidence in the profession, while dishonest billing practices involving unregistered practitioners create significant public risk.

Applying the joint-submission framework used in professional discipline matters, the panel accepted an agreed penalty consisting of a ten-month suspension, ethics and record-keeping education, compliance audits, a reprimand, and tariff costs.

The panel concluded the proposed resolution was not unhinged from the circumstances and would not bring the discipline system into disrepute.

In a professional discipline proceeding, the Tribunal found the registrant committed professional misconduct by failing to obtain informed consent for treatment of sensitive areas, failing to use proper draping techniques, and failing to maintain professional boundaries during two massage therapy appointments.

The Tribunal held that this conduct contravened multiple College standards and constituted conduct reasonably regarded by members of the profession as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.

Applying the Anthony-Cook framework, the Tribunal accepted a joint submission on penalty, noting the registrant's undertaking to resign and never reapply for registration exceeded the practical effect of revocation.

A reprimand was imposed and costs were ordered in favour of the College.