CRMO Guideline on Misconduct Prevention for Registered Manual Osteopaths
The following are considered acts of professional misconduct for a registered manual osteopath (RMO):
1. Doing anything to a client for therapeutic, preventative, palliative or other health-related purposes in a situation in which consent is required by law, without such consent.
2. Abusing a client verbally, physically, psychologically or emotionally.
3. Practicing the manual osteopathy profession while the member’s ability to do so is impaired by any substance (such as alcohol, drugs & narcotics).
4. Discontinuing needed professional services unless, the client requests the discontinuation; or alternative services are arranged; or the client is given a reasonable opportunity to arrange alternative services.
5. Discontinuing professional services contrary to the terms of an agreement between the registered manual osteopath and a health facility or clinic that provides health services to the public unless; the discontinuation is requested by the health facility or clinic; or alternative services are arranged; or a reasonable opportunity to arrange alternative services is provided.
6. Practicing the profession while the member is in conflict of interest.
7. Giving information about a client to a person other than the client, his/her authorized representative, or the member’s legal counsel or insurer, except with the consent of the client or his/her authorized representative or as required or allowed by law.
8. Breaching an agreement with a client relating to professional manual osteopathy services for the client or fees for such services.
9. Failing to reveal the nature of a remedy or treatment used by the RMO following a client’s request to do so.
10. Failing to advise a client to consult with another health professional when the registered manual osteopath knows or ought to know that; the client’s condition is beyond the scope of practice and competence for the RMO; or the client requires the care of another health professional; or the client would be most appropriately treated by another health professional.
11. Providing a therapeutic service that is not necessary.
12. Failing to maintain the member’s practice premises in a safe and sanitary manner.
13. Using a term, title or designation in respect of a member’s practice that is not true.
14. Using a term, title or designation indicating a specialization in the profession that is not true.
15. Using a name, other than the member’s name as set out in the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (Canada) certificate of registration, in the course of providing or offering to provide manual osteopathy services within the scope of practice of the manual osteopathy profession.
16. Failing to keep records for a period of seven years after the date of last client visit.
17. Falsifying a record relating to the member’s manual osteopathy practice.
18. Failing, without reasonable cause, to provide a report or certificate relating to services performed by the RMO within a reasonable time of 30 days after a client has requested such a report or certificate.
19. Signing or issuing, in the RMO’s professional capacity, a document the RMO knows contains a false or misleading statement.
20. Submitting an account or charge for services the CRMO member knows is false or misleading.
21. Failing to disclose to a client the fee for a service before the service is provided, including a fee not payable by the client.
