New Rules of Practice for the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board

By Mia London

The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (“HPARB”) has recently announced new Rules of Practice governing its reviews, appeals, and hearings. HPARB is the statutory tribunal whose mandate is to review certain decisions made by the Complaints and Registration Committees of the Regulated Health Colleges. When it receives a request for a review by either the Member or the Complainant of a decision of a College’s Complaints Committee, it has the power to review the decision provided that there has not been a referral to the Discipline Committee or to the Executive Committee for a potential referral to the Fitness to Practice Committee.

HPARB has the power to confirm all of part of the decision. If it finds that the investigation has been inadequate or the decision unreasonable, it has the power to make recommendations to the Complaints Committee or to require the Complaints Committee to take any action it should have taken other than to request the Registrar to conduct an investigation.

The Rules of Practice have been updated and revised to be clearer and more accessible to members of the public.