Mandatory Reports

Mandatory Reports

In a number of situations, occupational therapists, their employers or managers, facility operators, other regulated health care professionals, and their business partners or associates, have a legal obligation to make a mandatory report.

These reports are made to the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or, as appropriate, to the College of another regulated health care professional. Learn about reporting obligations below.

To learn more about the steps involved, see Reporting Requirements and Processes.

Reporting obligations

Occupational therapists must report if:

  • They believe a patient may have been or is being sexually abused by a fellow occupational therapist or another regulated health care professional.

    If the occupational therapist forms this suspicion while providing psychotherapy to an abusing practitioner, if able to, she or he must also provide an opinion concerning whether or not the abusing practitioner may sexually abuse patients/clients in the future and is required to further report if she or he ceases to provide psychotherapy to the abusing practitioner.
  • They have been found guilty of any offence.
  • They have been found to have engaged in professional malpractice or negligence.

Learn more about reporting obligations for employers or managers, facility operators, other regulated health care professionals.

Employers Reporting Obligations

Filing a report

Mandatory reports must be filed within 30 days after the occurrence happens.

However, reports must be made immediately if there are reasonable grounds to believe that:

  • the professional will continue to sexually abuse the patient or other patients; or
  • the incompetence or the incapacity of the professional is likely to expose patients to harm or injury, and there is urgent need for intervention.

Online Report Form

Use our online report form to file a mandatory report.

Online Report Form

Or send your mandatory report to:

Office of the Registrar

College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
20 Bay Street, Suite 900
PO Box 78
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2N8
Fax: 416-214-0586

You can also email investigations@coto.org