Abuse may be defined as treating others in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way and includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical abuse (e.g., pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, hitting or other physical force that may cause harm);
• Verbal abuse (e.g., derogatory or demeaning comments, cultural slurs, use of profane language, insults);
• Emotional abuse (e.g., threats, intimidation, insults, humiliation and harassment);
• Financial abuse/exploitation (e.g., theft, forging a person’s signature, influencing a patient/client to change their Will);
• Cyber abuse (e.g., cyberbullying by conveying inappropriate images and words through any form of electronic media); and
• Sexual abuse/assault/harassment (see sections on Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment).

For health care providers in Ontario, the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) defines sexual abuse not only as sexual intercourse with a patient but also as touching or remarks of a sexual nature directed towards a patient. This means a Respiratory Therapist is not allowed to:

• have sex of any form with a patient
• touch a patient in a sexual way
• make comments of a sexual nature or behave in a sexual way towards a patient
• have an intimate personal relationship with a patient 

Please note that this does not apply to touching, behaviours or comments that are of a clinical nature and are appropriate to the care provided.

If you think a Respiratory Therapist has abused you or someone you know, please contact the Professional Conduct team at professionalconduct@crto.on.ca or call 416-591-7800 or 1-800-261-0528 ext. 37 to discuss the options. Don’t assume that someone else will report the Respiratory Therapist, it’s imperative that the CRTO investigates these situations to help protect the public.

Regulated health professionals, including Respiratory Therapists and those who work with or employ them have legal and ethical obligations to make reports to the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario and other health colleges and agencies as required under the Regulated Health Professions Act – this is called Mandatory Reporting.

After making a complaint against a Respiratory Therapist alleging sexual abuse, funding for therapy or counselling may be available to you. The Patient Relations Committee at the CRTO oversees the funding.  

Because of the way that sexual abuse of a patient is defined in the law, it is difficult to precisely describe the kinds of actions that might be considered sexual abuse of a patient by a Respiratory Therapist. If you have questions, contact the Professional Practice Advisor at the CRTO to discuss your concerns.

The list below includes some examples of actions or behaviours that are likely inappropriate on the part of the Respiratory Therapist. These behaviours can be obvious or subtle, and words can be as damaging as actions. Contact the CRTO if you experience any of the following with your Respiratory Therapist:

• Any unwanted sexual attention or behaviour, for example, kissing or hugging in a sexual way.
• Sexual touching, for example, touching your buttocks, breasts, genitals or any other areas in a way that is not needed for therapy.
• Sexually suggestive or seductive remarks, for example, comments about your sexual relationships, sexual orientation, or inappropriate sexual remarks or questions about your appearance or clothing.
• Sexually insulting or offensive comments or jokes.
• Not asking for permission before touching you.
• Anything that makes you feel uneasy.

The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO) recognizes the seriousness and extent of harm that sexual abuse and other forms of abuse can cause to individuals, their family members, and healthcare team members. Therefore, the CRTO has a position of zero tolerance for any form of abuse (sexual, physical, verbal, emotional, financial, or cyber) by its Members.

Through its standards of practice, policies and guidelines, the CRTO strives to educate its Members on the effects and/or impacts of abuse. The CRTO expects sensitive practice principles to be an essential part of the care our Members provide. The profession needs to be aware of the imbalance of power that exists in various relationships.

The CRTO will ensure all Respiratory Therapists are aware that abuse in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

For more information, please refer to the following CRTO documents:

• A Commitment to Ethical Practice
• Abuse Awareness & Prevention Professional Practice Guideline
• Funding for Therapy or Counselling for Sexual Abuse
• Funding for Supportive Measures (Non-Patient/Client) Policy
• Funding for Supportive Measures (Patient/Client) Policy
• Standards of Practice

• Mandatory Facility/Employer Reports for Termination, Suspension or Restriction Fact Sheet
• Mandatory Reporting by Members Fact Sheet (CD-FS215)
• Reporting to Police Policy (CD-140)
• Funding for Counselling or Therapy for Sexual Abuse
  • Funding for Supportive Measures (Patient/Client) Policy
    
  • Funding for Supportive Measures (Non-Patient/Client) Policy
• Standards of Practice
• Abuse Awareness & Prevention Professional Practice Guideline
• Bill 87, Protecting Patients Act, 2017