Upon receiving a potential complaint, the registrar will review the information received to determine whether the potential complaint meets the definition of a complaint of the Paramedic Act, and whether in substance it alleges that the member is guilty of such conduct.
The Registrar will determine if the potential complaint warrants further consideration. If so, The Registrar or the Board will request further investigation by the Complaints Committee. If further consideration is warranted, complaints are considered first by the Complaints Committee, and if further consideration is necessary, they are referred to either the Discipline Committee or the Fitness to Practice Committee.
Complaints Committee
The Complaints Committee, consisting of the committee Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, a nominated PANB member and third, a public representative, will review the complaint, the member’s response, and any documentation submitted by the parties or collected by PANB’s legal team.
The Complaints Committee considers only written materials – neither the complainant nor the member involved in the complaint attend the Complaints Committee meeting. Upon review of the documents, the Complaints Committee determines if the complaint should be dismissed, or if it warrants further consideration by either the Discipline Committee or the Fitness to Practice Committee. If the Complaints Committee finds it necessary to prevent a risk to the public by temporarily suspending the member’s registration pending the outcome of the Discipline Committee’s or Fitness to Practice Committee’s process, it may do so.
Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee considers allegations of professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming a member, incompetence and dishonesty. Each Committee shall hold a hearing respecting the allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity of a member that have been referred to it by the Complaints Committee, where a hearing is conducted, consider the complaint, hear the evidence, ascertain the facts and make a decision with respect to the merits of each complaint as to whether the member is guilty of alledged complaint or is suffering from an ailment or condition in such manner as it deems fit.
Fitness to Practice Committee
The Fitness to Practice Committee considers allegations that a member has a medical, physical or mental health condition that renders the member unable to practise competently or safely.
The Complaints Committee Rules of Procedure apply to all proceedings before the PANB Complaints Committee and were approved by the Complaints Committee as of January 8, 2024. The Rules of Procedure provide guidance to the parties to a complaint.
At the Complaints Committee stage, where the matter arose by way of a formal complaint, the parties are the person who submitted the complaint and the member(s) involved in the complaint.
Where the matter arose by way of a mandatory report under the Bill-66, then PANB acts as the complainant in the matter.
If a complaint is referred by the Complaints Committee to the Discipline Committee or to the Fitness to Practice Committee, PANB will assume the role of complainant and will prosecute the allegations against the member(s) involved.
If you have questions about the Complaints Committee Rules of Procedure, please contact the PANB Complaints Department at: complaints-plaintes@panb.ca.
The Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practice Committee Rules of Procedure apply to all proceedings before the Discipline Committee and the Fitness to Practice Committee of PANB and were approved by the Discipline and Fitness to Practice Committees as of January 8, 2024.
The Rules of Procedure provide guidance to parties to proceedings before the Discipline or Fitness to Practice Committees, including, with necessary modifications, to applications for reinstatement. The parties to those proceedings arePANB and the member(s) involved in the complaint. PANB prosecutes the allegations against the member(s) involved.
Hearings before the Discipline Committee are open to the public. Hearings before the Fitness to Practice Committee, which deal with the health of a member, are closed to the public. Hearings will generally be held in electronic format. The Rules of Procedure explain the requirements for documents (forms and service), pre-hearing conferences, disclosure and production, motions (including adjournments), findings of facts in prior matters, costs, etc.
The Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practice Committee Rules of Procedure do not apply to interim orders imposed under section ?? of the Bill-66 or to the Alternate Complaint Resolution Process (ACRP) set out in the PANB Bylaws.
If you have questions about the Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practice Committee Rules of Procedure, please contact the PANB Tribunals Office at tribunals-tribunaux@panb.ca.
The following forms are referenced in the Rules of Procedure and are included as appendices to the Rules of Procedure. They are individually hyperlinked below for ease of reference.
- FORM 4A: CONSENT
- FORM 5A: NOTICE OF MOTION
- FORM 5B: ORDER
- FORM 6A: PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE MEMORANDUM
- FORM 6B: REPORT OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER
- FORM 7A: ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF EXPERT’S DUTY
- FORM 13A: SUMMONS FOR IN-PERSON HEARING
- FORM 13B: SUMMONS FOR ELECTRONIC HEARING
- FORM 13C: REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO HEARING RECORD
- FORM 14A: CONSENT ADJOURNMENT
Discipline focuses on breaches of professional standards (misconduct or incompetence), whereas Fitness to Practice is a non-disciplinary process designed to support professionals with health conditions, protecting the public while respecting the member’s privacy.
Complaints referred to the Discipline Committee or the Fitness to Practice Committee may be considered by holding a hearing, or by agreement of the parties in writing under the Alternate Complaint Resolution Proposal process. For additional information, please see:
Bill-66
PANB Bylaws
NCFP Standards
