College Responsibilities
Offering Services to the Public
The College of Dietitians of Ontario works in the interest of the public by setting and monitoring standards and providing support to Registered Dietitians for safe, ethical and competent food and nutrition services. We believe that this is the best form of public protection.
Public Education
The College provides information and guidance to members of the public, employers and health care providers about dietetic services, such as:
- Answering questions about the professional standards and obligations of Registered Dietitians;
- Giving information about Dietitians such as where they work, the languages in which they can provide services, whether they are under review for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, or have had their Certificate of Registration suspended or revoked;
- Guiding members of the public through a College procedure such as the complaints process;
- Providing services in French to the best ability of the College;
- Distributing information to community and social services explaining a client's right not to be abused sexually by a Registered Dietitian (see an on-line version of Sexual Abuse Has No Place in Your Health Care);
- Providing information on the website and print material about dietitians, about the College of Dietitians of Ontario and how it operates in the interest of the public.
The College of Dietitians of Ontario assists people who have concerns about individual Registered Dietitians. College staff is available to answer questions and discuss a concern and provide information about filing a complaint.
It is the College's responsibility to investigate complaints and protect the public by assisting Dietitians who may not have the competencies or capacity to provide safe, ethical and high quality service and to deal with matters of professional misconduct and fitness to practice.
The College of Dietitians of Ontario investigates complaints and reports about the performance and conduct of a Registered Dietitian. Decisions resulting from an investigation may include:
- providing guidance and orders to a Dietitian to improve their practice
- suspending a member's certificate of registration or
- revoking a member's certificate of registration.
For more information about how the College deals with complaints, please refer to :
- How to File a Complaint,
- Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, and
- Complaints Policy.
