By The Canadian Press

Alberta proposes tougher rules, transparency on health provider misconduct

Oct 31, 2018 | 12:16 AM

EDMONTON — New rules introduced in the Alberta legislature could see doctors, along with thousands of other health-care providers, face automatic licence suspensions for sexually abusing patients.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman says it’s time to make changes to increase transparency and strengthen protection for patients.

The bill proposes that health regulatory bodies would respond to complaints of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct.

Sexual abuse refers to overt acts and would result in a mandatory licence suspension for at least five years.

Sexual misconduct refers to offences such as voyeurism and sexually suggestive remarks and would lead to a mandatory licence suspension of up to five years.

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Health-care providers found to have committed such misconduct would have their names and discipline history listed on public websites run by the regulatory colleges.

If the bill is passed, Alberta would be the second province in Canada, after Ontario, to take targeted legislative action to protect patients from sexual abuse by health professionals, with new legislative requirements coming into effect April 1, 2019.