Compliance Procedures
Fitness to Practice
One of the responsibilities of the Executive Committee is to act as a screening committee for members whose capacity to practise safely as a dietitian is being questioned because of a physical or mental condition or as a result of substance abuse. Such cases will be referred to the Executive Committee by the Complaints Committee or the Registrar.
When a referral is received, the Executive Committee may appoint a board of inquiry to make inquiries and investigate suspected incapacity due to reasons such as physical, mental, emotional incapacity or substance abuse. After reviewing the report from the board of inquiry, the Executive Committee may refer the member to the Fitness to Practise Committee for an incapacity hearing.
Board of Inquiry
The board of inquiry will conduct an investigation into whether the member is incapacitated. The investigation usually involves interviews with the member and the member's employer and colleagues. The board of inquiry may require the member to submit to physical or mental examination conducted by a health care professional designated by the Board and may suspend the member's certificate of registration until he or she submits to the examination. The board of inquiry will prepare a report to the Executive Committee and provide a copy to the member.
Fitness to Practise Committee
The responsibility of the Fitness to Practise Committee is to provide a fair review of all matters regarding the potential incapacity of members to practice safely.
After reviewing the report from the board of inquiry, the Executive Committee may refer the member to the Fitness to Practise Committee for an incapacity hearing. A Fitness to Practise hearing is a formal hearing but it is usually closed to the public. After hearing the evidence, if the Fitness to Practise Committee panel finds that the member is incapacitated, it shall take one or more of the following actions:
- Revoke or suspend the member's certificate of registration;
- Impose terms, conditions and limitations on the member's certificate of registration for a specified or indefinite period.
