HPRAC Consultation on Spousal Treatment

The College is taking a very robust role in this public consultation by the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council. College President Dr. Peter Trainor, accompanied by College Registrar Irwin Fefergrad, made a forceful presentation to HPRAC on January 10 during the open hearings at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto. The College is also making a written submission later this month.

The College's position is that it is wrong and beyond common sense to equate, without exception, the treatment of a spouse by any health care practitioners as equivalent to a situation of sexual abuse. The College is urging HPRAC to recommend to the Minister that the automatic five-year revocation be lifted.

Instead, when specified allegations of professional misconduct are referred to the Discipline Committee, let this Committee have the discretion to do what is does so well in other situations. The Discipline Committee can then make a reasoned decision based on the evidence before it.

The College's presentation points out that for decades thousands and thousands of dentists have been treating their spouses. And have done so safely and without any cause for concern. In fact, since 1993, at our College there has only been one complaint about a dentist treating a spouse, and that complaint was filed by someone other that the spouse.

HPRAC is scheduled to make its recommendations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care by the end of April. Then the Minister sets her own timeframe. During her decision-making process, she can accept, reject or modify the advice from HPRAC.w