Other Tribunals - OCOCOO

The College alleged that the Member, a chiropodist, engaged in sexual abuse and professional misconduct by having inappropriate personal and sexual communications with a patient and engaging in inappropriate touching during an unscheduled clinic visit.

The Discipline Committee found the patient's evidence to be unreliable due to inconsistencies and evasiveness during cross-examination.

Conversely, the Member's evidence was clear, consistent, and supported by clinical notes and clinic security protocols.

The College failed to prove the allegations on a balance of probabilities, and the allegations were dismissed.

The College of Chiropodists of Ontario brought a motion for an order permanently staying the discipline proceedings against the respondent member.

The member consented to the order and signed an undertaking to permanently resign his registration and never reapply.

The Discipline Committee found that resolving the proceeding by way of resignation and an undertaking not to reapply, rather than a full hearing, was consistent with the College's mandate to protect the public interest.

The motion was granted, the proceedings were permanently stayed, and the member was ordered to pay costs of $25,000 to the College.