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Professional Liability Insurance is Mandatory For RDs

Updated October 31, 2011

Liability insurance is mandatory for Registered Dietitians who are practising dietetics in Ontario as defined by the College. Click here to see if this liability insurance requirement applies to you.

College members who work outside of dietetics are not required to hold liability insurance. RDs who are not working (e.g., unemployed or are on a leave such as mat-leave) are not practising and are therefore not required to hold liability insurance.

Insurance Amount and Deductibles

Collage By-Law 5, Professional Liability Insurance Coverage Requirements for Members, stipulates the minimum insurance coverage and deductible required as follows:

1.01 A member engaging in the practice of dietetics shall maintain professional liability insurance coverage with the following characteristics:

a. The minimum coverage shall be no less than $2,000,000 per occurrence.
b. The aggregate coverage shall be no less than $5,000,000.
c. The deductible shall be no more than $1,000.
d. The insurer must be licensed with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
e. The member must be personally insured under the insurance policy.
1.02 The insurance may he held indirectly (e.g., through an employer) so long as the member is able to obtain proof of coverage and the coverage meets the requirements of Article 1.01 (e.g., the member is an added insured under the employer's policy).

1.03 The requirements in this article take effect April 1, 2011.

Proof of Insurance
Although you must have been insured by April 1, 2011, you do not have to submit a proof of insurance to the College until the renewal period in Fall 2011, when the College will verify that Registered Dietitians have liability insurance:

You will be required to make a declaration on your membership renewal form that you are insured from April 1, 2011, in keeping with the by-law requirements.

20% of members will be randomly selected to submit a proof of insurance, either a certificate of insurance or employment letter stating that they are insured in keeping with the by-law requirements. The insurance coverage period, beginning April 1, 2011, must be indicated.

How to Obtain Coverage

The College is not be offering or endorsing professional liability insurance for members. RDs are free to explore coverage options as long as the insurance coverage meets the requirements stated in the College By-Law No. 5. An RD can obtain liability insurance through the following channels:

An RD may be insured through an employer. If their insurance is held through an employer, RDs must be personally covered, meaning they are named in the employer’s policy or they are referenced by category of employee (e.g.,"all employees of XYZ company" or "Registered Dietitian") in the policy.

Liability insurance for dietitians may be obtained directly through an insurance company. RDs have informed the College that liability insurance may now be obtained through HUB Sinclair Cockburn, Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd, or through Michael Palermo & Associates.

Dietitians of Canada offers liability insurance for its members.

Professional Misconduct
It has been professional misconduct for RDs to practice without having professional liability insurance since March, 2011. Therefore, Registered Dietitians who do not comply with the requirements will be notified and potentially subject to a College investigation and review by the Inquires Complaints and Reports Committee. The Committee will ultimately decide whether to refer the member to a hearing for professional misconduct. Similarly, falsification of documents and making false claims would also be considered grounds for professional misconduct.
For more information, contact the Practice Advisory Service
practiceadvisor@cdo.on.ca

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