NDP cracks down on sex abuse in health care

EDMONTON Doctors and other health-care professionals found guilty of sexually abusing patients will be forced to turn in their licences for a minimum of five years under new legislation that overhauls disciplinary rules.

The NDP bill, dubbed An Act to Protect Patients, outlines a range of actions that would lead to a licence being revoked, including intercourse, sexual touching and masturbating in front of a patient.

Offences under the umbrella of sexual abuse carry the heaviest penalties, but new rules also apply to professionals guilty of sexual misconduct, which could include sexual remarks or voyeurism. Professionals who commit sexual misconduct also have to give up their licences, though regulatory colleges have the discretion to determine shorter suspensions up to five years.

On Tuesday, Alberta became the second province to introduce legislation after Ontario.

The legislation applies to 29 regulatory bodies, ranging from physicians to dental hygienists to x-ray technologists, to cover a total of about 100,000 professionals.

If passed, the bill will take effect April 1.