CPSO Consults Public on Updates to Four Key Policies: #1 Delegation of Controlled Acts

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is currently asking for feedback on the following four policies and their accompanying advice documents: Delegation of Controlled Acts; Professional Responsibilities in Medical Education; Third Party Medical Reports; and Telemedicine. The consultations were announced on September 17, 2020 and the deadline for providing feedback on the new draft policies is November 16, 2020.

Delegation of Controlled Acts

Physicians may delegate certain controlled acts to others who would otherwise not be permitted to perform particular controlled acts (such as communicating a diagnosis, administering a substance by injection, performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis, and prescribing, dispensing, selling or compounding a drug) in order to provide patient care when certain criteria are met. The existing policy regarding the delegation of controlled acts has been updated to clarify that delegation is intended to extend physician care, not replace it, and to outline what will be considered appropriate supervision of a delegate. The CPSO has pointed to concerns regarding several instances where physicians have left a delegate to manage their practice without supervision or supports as part of their rationale for these changes.

Under the proposed new policy, physicians are effectively prohibited from leaving delegates unsupervised and must re-assess patients when their treatment options have changed (or if requested by a patient). Additionally, physicians must periodically review patient medical records to ensure appropriate care is being provided through delegation.

You can review the draft policy and provide your feedback here.