LAWYERS FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

If one of your patients has filed a complaint to the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (“COTO”), then you need the assistance of a knowledgeable and skilled professional discipline lawyer at your side. Posner Craig Stein (“PCS”) defends occupational therapists in proceedings at the COTO. Being the target of a patient complaint and facing allegations of professional misconduct can be anxiety-provoking, frustrating, and time-consuming. Entrusting PCS with your COTO case means that you will have an experienced and trusted advocate at your side throughout the complaints and discipline process. We understand the potential impact that patient complaints and professional misconduct allegations can have on your reputation and financial situation. We know that your livelihood can depend on ensuring that the complaint is found to be without merit and that allegations of professional misconduct are dismissed. Our lawyers work tirelessly, creatively – and in a relentless manner. We also have a network of expert witnesses who work with us in a collaborative manner to help navigate you through the COTO process.

PCS occupational therapist defence lawyers have extensive expertise in assisting occupational therapists in guiding them through the investigatory stage of a COTO complaint and assisting them with COTO audits. The earlier an occupational therapist retains quality defence counsel, the better the opportunity we have to ensure you walk away with your reputation, license, and livelihood intact. In an audit, we will work in concert with you to ensure you are well prepared. In an investigation, we will ensure that all of the relevant information that demonstrates your competence and integrity is placed before the investigator, so that the College has the tools it needs to dismiss any complaints against you.

PCS assists occupational therapists in making submissions to the ICRC. The ICRC screens complaints, and can refer an occupational therapist to the discipline committee for a hearing for professional misconduct or incapacity. The ICRC can also, instead of referring the complaint to the discipline committee, order the occupational therapist to attend for a caution in-person, order the occupational therapist to complete a specialized continuing remediation and education program (“SCERP”), or take any other it deems appropriate.

It is essential to consult with a lawyer for occupational therapists at this stage of the complaint process. Even if the ICRC does not refer the complaint to the discipline committee, cautions and SCERPS result in mandatory publication of the ICRC’s decision on the COTO’s on-line register. This can result in reputational and financial damage. An occupational therapist has the opportunity to make written submissions to the ICRC. PCS occupational therapist defence lawyers have skill and expertise in crafting elegant, cogent and persuasive submissions to convince the panel at the ICRC to dismiss the complaint. Your time, reputation, and finances can be saved by working early on to have the complaint dismissed.

Hearings before the Discipline Committee involve hearing from witnesses, cross-examination, calling evidence, and making submissions before the panel. Our team of occupational therapist defence lawyers have extensive expertise in these areas, developed over decades in tribunals and courtrooms across Ontario.

Carefully calibrated and effective cross-examination of witnesses called by the prosecution in your discipline proceeding can result in a dismissal of professional misconduct charges. The key to success is extensive preparation, skillful and targeted questioning, and the experience to adapt to the witness’s answers as they come. PCS occupational therapist defence lawyers will bring these skills and attributes to your defence.

If the ICRC has reached an unfair or unreasonable decision, you have legal recourse. Occupational therapists can appeal ICRC dispositions to the HPARB. These appeals involve the examination of the record of the proceedings before the ICRC, the drafting of written legal arguments, and can involve oral arguments before a panel.

Our occupational therapist defence lawyers bring their experience and skill to bear on your case. We will subject the record of your proceeding to microscopic scrutiny to properly develop the arguments that have the greatest chance of winning on appeal. Our trial and appellate experience gives us the necessary perspective to properly examine a record, and find the errors that will provide you with powerful arguments on appeal.

Critical to success on appeals is written advocacy – and PCS’s written work is polished and persuasive. PCS’s experience in written advocacy has been honed over years of preparing written submissions in many different Ontario tribunals, and courts including the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. When it comes time to argue an appeal, we will be fully prepared to present your case in a forceful and persuasive manner.

If the HPARB declines to set aside a decision of the ICRC, an occupational therapist can seek to have the HPARB’s decision reviewed judicially at the Divisional Court of Ontario. Decisions of the Discipline Committee are also reviewed by the Divisional Court. Much like hearings before the HPARB, judicial reviews involve an examination of the record of the proceedings below, the drafting of legal arguments, and making oral arguments before a panel of Ontario Superior Court judges. PCS occupational therapist defence lawyers are experienced in arguing cases before the Divisional Court and we will pursue every avenue to help protect your reputation, your license, and your financial well being.

Posner Craig Stein is the right occupational therapist defence firm to handle complaints made against you because:

• We achieve the best possible results for our clients;
• Our advocacy skills, both written and oral, are highly respected;
• Our fees are highly competitive.

If you are an occupational therapist and have been the subject of a complaint, it is to your benefit to retain an experienced occupational therapist defence lawyer immediately. Posner Craig Stein may be able to help you avoid serious consequences, such as reputational and financial damage.

Come meet with us, in confidence, at out office, by phone, or a virtually to discuss your options today. Put your trust in the Posner Craig Stein team of highly skilled occupational therapist defence lawyers with proven experience.