Ruth Ann Penny

The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against the Member for professional misconduct.

The allegations included submitting improper OHIP claims using a retired physician's billing number, providing inadequate counselling and follow-up care for FM systems, and failing to maintain accurate patient records.

The Member pleaded no contest to the agreed statement of facts.

The Discipline Committee found the Member engaged in professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered the revocation of the Member's certificate of registration, a public reprimand, and $10,000 in costs, emphasizing the need for specific and general deterrence given the scope and intentionality of the improper billing scheme.

The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for engaging in a sexual relationship with a former patient shortly after their therapeutic relationship ended.

The member admitted to the allegations and the panel found she engaged in professional misconduct.

The panel accepted a joint submission on penalty and costs, ordering a public reprimand, a four-month suspension (with three months remitted upon completion of an ethics and boundaries remediation program), a two-year monitoring period, and $5,000 in costs.

The panel noted the member's cooperation, lack of prior disciplinary history, and proactive completion of the remediation program as mitigating factors.

The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for engaging in a sexual relationship with a former patient shortly after their therapeutic relationship ended.

The member admitted to the allegations and the panel found she engaged in professional misconduct.

The panel accepted a joint submission on penalty and costs, ordering a public reprimand, a four-month suspension (with three months remitted upon completion of an ethics and boundaries remediation program), a two-year monitoring period, and $5,000 in costs.

The panel noted the member's cooperation, lack of prior disciplinary history, and proactive completion of the remediation program as mitigating factors.

The Member, an audiologist, was alleged to have committed professional misconduct by using the title 'doctor' or 'Dr.' in her practice, contrary to section 33 of the Regulated Health Professions Act.

The Member brought a motion challenging the College's jurisdiction, the validity of the professional misconduct regulation, the referral process, and the constitutionality of the title restriction under sections 2(b) and 7 of the Charter.

The Discipline Committee dismissed the motion, finding the regulation valid and the Charter rights not infringed, relying on binding precedent that professional title restrictions do not violate freedom of expression or security of the person.

The Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct, ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension (one month remitted), an ethics course, practice inspections, and costs of $97,595.

The Member, an audiologist, was alleged to have committed professional misconduct by using the title 'doctor' or 'Dr.' in her practice, contrary to section 33 of the Regulated Health Professions Act.

The Member brought a motion challenging the College's jurisdiction, the validity of the professional misconduct regulation, the referral process, and the constitutionality of the title restriction under sections 2(b) and 7 of the Charter.

The Discipline Committee dismissed the motion, finding the regulation valid and the Charter rights not infringed, relying on binding precedent that professional title restrictions do not violate freedom of expression or security of the person.

The Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct, ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension (one month remitted), an ethics course, practice inspections, and costs of $97,595.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a member who had been criminally convicted of sexual exploitation and sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually abusing a student over a four-year period.

The member did not attend the hearing.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Although the member's teaching certificate had already been revoked in a prior proceeding, the Committee ordered the publication of the findings and order with the member's name to protect the public interest and uphold the standards of the profession.

The Member, a school principal, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for breaching rules regarding the administration of EQAO tests between 2007 and 2010.

The Member failed to keep test materials secure, altered student answers, and permitted improper accommodations, including unauthorized scribing and allowing students to leave the testing area.

The Discipline Committee accepted the guilty plea and found the Member guilty of professional misconduct.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, a six-month suspension (reducible to three months upon completion of an ethics course), and publication of the decision with the Member's name.

The Member, a school principal, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct after being convicted under the Customs Act for smuggling replica firearms into Canada.

The Member had purchased the replica weapons for his underage son to use in Airsoft games.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a two-month retroactive suspension, and the completion of a course on ethical expectations.

The Committee also ordered that the decision be published with the Member's name, emphasizing that off-duty conduct can bring the profession into disrepute and requires general deterrence.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against the Member alleging incompetence following two unsatisfactory performance appraisals.

The Member did not attend the hearing but entered into a Memorandum of Agreement admitting to the facts and pleading to incompetence.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission, finding the Member incompetent for displaying a lack of knowledge, skill, or judgment.

The Committee ordered that terms, conditions, and limitations be placed on the Member's certificate, requiring her to successfully complete an approved additional qualification course before seeking employment requiring a certificate.

The Member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence following three unsatisfactory performance appraisals.

The College withdrew the incompetence allegation, and the Member pleaded no contest to professional misconduct for failing to maintain professional standards and failing to comply with the relevant Acts.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member guilty.

The Committee accepted a joint recommendation on penalty, imposing conditions on the Member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, including the requirement to complete an additional qualification course before returning to teaching.

The Committee declined to publish the Member's name in the College's official magazine, noting the Member's retirement, the absence of student safety concerns, and the mitigating circumstances.

The Member, a secondary school teacher, pled guilty to professional misconduct for engaging in an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with a student.

The Member had previously pled guilty to criminal charges of sexual exploitation and was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Penalty, finding the Member guilty of professional misconduct and sexual abuse of a student.

The Committee ordered the revocation of the Member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, and directed that the decision be published with the Member's name to serve as a general and specific deterrent.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct following a criminal conviction for driving with a blood-alcohol level over 80mg.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Resolution.

The member was reprimanded.

The only contested issue was whether the member's name should be published in the decision summary.

The Committee ordered publication of the member's name, finding it necessary for transparency and as a general and specific deterrent.

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing after finding the Member guilty of professional misconduct for failing to report a staff member's sexual abuse of a student, fostering a climate of intimidation, and mismanaging funds.

The College sought revocation, while the Member's counsel argued against publication and raised procedural objections.

The Committee ordered the revocation of the Member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, imposed a five-year waiting period for reinstatement, and ordered publication of the decision with the Member's name, emphasizing the need for specific and general deterrence and the protection of the public interest.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a school principal for professional misconduct.

The allegations included failing to report the sexual abuse of an intellectually-challenged student by an educational assistant, exhibiting favouritism toward that assistant, and fostering a climate of intimidation among staff.

The Discipline Committee heard testimony from multiple witnesses confirming the principal's inappropriate conduct, administrative deficiencies, and failure to protect students.

The principal's defence relied on 'deliberate ignorance' regarding the assistant's actions.

The Committee found that this deliberate ignorance constituted active participation and knowledge, concluding that the principal committed professional misconduct by violating multiple provisions of Ontario Regulation 437/97.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to criminal charges of possessing child pornography and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against the member for professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, noting that possession of child pornography is a serious crime that victimizes children and puts students at risk.

The Committee ordered the revocation of the member's certificate of qualification and registration, and directed that the decision be published.

The member, a school principal, submitted fraudulent invoices and accepted reimbursement from the school board for teaching materials and a television that were never located at the school.

The member pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct and ordered a reprimand, a 1.5-year suspension of his teaching certificate, and publication of the decision.