Disciplinary publication framework

CARNA has a regulatory obligation under the Health Professions Act (HPA) to make public:

  • sanctions (penalties) or conditions imposed on a Regulated Member’s practice permit
  • access to Decisions of a Hearing Tribunal
  • publish on the website Decisions relating to sexual abuse or sexual misconduct
 CARNA believes that public disclosure beyond the mandatory provisions of HPA that is based on prevailing good practice and grounded in the public interest increases transparency and public confidence in the decisions of the regulatory college.

Notice to Attend a Hearing

  • CARNA will publish a Notice to Attend a Hearing (“Notice”) on CARNA's website prior to a Hearing and after the Regulated Member has been provided with the Notice. The Notice will remain on the website until the Hearing has been concluded and a Decision of unprofessional conduct is published, or if the complaint has been dismissed.
  • Personal or health information will be redacted from Hearing notices, at the discretion of the Hearings Director or delegate.
  • CARNA will update the CARNA website with any changes to the Notice. CARNA follows Personal Information Privacy Act.

    Hearing Tribunal Decisions 

    • CARNA will comply with the required disclosure provisions under the Health Professions Act (HPA), Part 8.3, which are the minimum requirements for website publications.
    • Personal or health information will be redacted from Appeal Notice, Decisions at the discretion of the Registrar or delegate.
    • For a complaint dismissed by the Hearing Tribunal, or any appeal body, CARNA will not publish any publication about the complaint and the Decision.

    Appeals

    • A Decision of unprofessional conduct will remain published despite an application of Appeal, unless the Decision is stayed.
    • A Decision dismissing allegations of unprofessional conduct will not be published. However; if the matter is appealed, a notation will appear on the website acknowledging the Decision is under Appeal.
    • If an appeal body reverses a finding of unprofessional conduct all previous related Decisions will no longer be published.
    • If an appeal body reverses a Dismissal and makes a finding of unprofessional conduct, that Decision and all previous related Decisions will be published. 

    Alternative Complaint Resolution (ACR)

    • For a complaint resolved under ACR, under section 58 of HPA, CARNA may publish information related to a complaint, or settlement, and may reveal the identity of the Complainant or if authorized to do so.

    General

    • Any publication of the Decision will be published for a minimum 10 years or longer, as required by the Health Professions Act (HPA).
    • Publication will occur promptly after a redacted copy is prepared.
    • If a Regulated Member wants to have a dismissal Decision published, they may apply in writing to the Registrar, or delegate.
    • A statistical summary of all complaints received will be published annually on our website. The summary will not include details but will inform how CARNA is fulfilling its mandate to disclose complaints, resolution of complaints, remediation and compliance with sanctions (penalties)/conditions).
    • In the public interest, other external facing mechanisms, (such as media), may be used at the discretion of the Registrar, or delegate.