Complaints & Discipline

Addressing Complaints and Concerns About Dietitians

Addressing complaints and concerns about the conduct, competence and capacity of dietitians is one of the ways the College of Dietitians of Ontario works to protect the public. These concerns come to the College’s attention in a variety of ways:

• Complaints received from a member of the public, a client, a colleague, or anyone else who has concerns about a dietitian.

• Mandatory reports filed by employers, regulated health professionals, or other individuals required by law to report concerns to the College. For example, regulated health professionals are required to report suspected sexual abuse of a client, and employers are required to report when a dietitian is terminated for incompetence or misconduct.

• Mandatory dietitian self-reporting.

• Other reports or information, such as reports from the College’s Quality Assurance  and Registration Committees.

Complaints of Sexual Abuse

Anyone alleging that they were sexual abused by a dietitian can apply for funding for therapy and counselling. Applications can be made at any time during the investigation process and funding is not dependent on the Discipline Committee finding the dietitian guilty of sexual abuse. The College’s Patient Relations Committee reviews applications and determines whether the applicant is eligible for funding and how much funding to provide. Whether the applicant is eligible for funding is not considered as part of the investigation.

Contact the Registrar & Executive Director for information.

Three Committees Address Complaints and Concerns

Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee

The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, (ICRC) is responsible for investigating and making decisions on all complaints and reports. For concerns about a dietitian that pose a high risk of harm to the public, the ICRC may refer those matters to the Discipline Committee or to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Discipline Committee

The ICRC refers concerns related to a dietitian’s conduct or competence to the Discipline Committee  for a hearing. Allegations of misconduct usually referred involve intentional dishonesty, a breach of trust, abuse of a client, or a deliberate violation of a significant professional value. Allegations of incompetence referred usually involve serious concerns about a dietitian’s clinical knowledge, skill, or judgment that cannot be addressed through education and remediation alone.

Fitness to Practise Committee

If a dietitian has a mental or physical health condition that may affect their ability to practise safely, the ICRC will refer the dietitian to the Fitness to Practise Committee for an incapacity hearing.

Note:  This website provides current and updated information. Should there be a difference with documentation previously distributed to members, it is up to the members to source the latest version posted on the College website.