In February 2024, Ms. Danielle Naumann-Bar was referred to the Discipline Committee for allegations of professional misconduct. An uncontested hearing was held on October 16, 2024. A panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario found that Ms. Naumann-Bar committed acts of professional misconduct by:

• Contravening, by act or omission, a standard of practice of the profession or failing to maintain the standard of practice of the profession) namely;
       a. Standards for Professional Boundaries (Revised 2015); and
       b. Standard for Consent; and
• Practising the profession while the member is in a conflict of interest); and
• Engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as conduct unbecoming an occupational therapist.

The panel ordered the following: 

1. The Registrant is required to appear before a panel of the Discipline Committee immediately following the hearing of this matter to receive a reprimand which will be delivered online via videoconference. 
2. The Registrar is directed to suspend the Registrant’s certificate of registration for a period of four months commencing on December 1, 2024.
3. The Registrar is directed to impose the following terms, conditions, and limitations on the Registrant’s certificate of practice, the cost of which shall be payable by the Registrant:
        a. The Registrant must successfully complete, as determined by the Registrar, the College’s online PREP   Professionalism Boundaries 2018 module within three months of the Order;
        b. The Registrant must successfully complete, as determined by the Registrar, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists “Delivering Occupational Therapy Service in Mental Health” course within five months of the Order;
        c. The Registrant must fully participate, as determined by the Registrar, in three individualized coaching sessions on College approved issues with a College-approved coach within five months of the Order. The coach shall provide one report to the Registrar setting out content of sessions and Registrant’s participation and compliance with coaching sessions;
        d. The Registrant must fully participate, as determined by the Registrar, in a Practice Monitor Program on College approved issues with a College-approved practice monitor, within 10 months upon return to practice from the suspension in paragraph 2, above. The Registrant shall provide a prescribed number and quality of client records to the practice monitor two weeks prior to the first meeting. The Registrant and the practice monitor shall meet once every two months to discuss issues as determined by the Registrar. The practice monitor shall provide a report after each session and a final report to the Registrar setting out content of the program, and the Registrant’s participation and compliance with the program.
4. The Registrant is required to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5,000.00 within twelve months of the Order.

Decision

The full decisions and reasons of the Discipline Committee can be accessed here: https://canlii.ca/t/k8172