Professional Misconduct/Incompetence

All individuals have the right to competent and professional medical care. The Saskatchewan College of Respiratory Therapists (SCRT) has a responsibility to ensure that allegations of professional misconduct and/or professional incompetence of its members are responded to and investigated as required by The Respiratory Therapists Act, the bylaws made as authorized by The Act, and policies, in accordance with the rules of natural justice and any other applicable laws, and in a timely manner.

“Professional incompetence” includes a significant lack of knowledge, skill or judgment, or disregard for a patient’s welfare, which falls below the standards expected of a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) such that the RRT should be barred from performing specific procedures or from the profession entirely in the interests of public safety. This includes inadequate knowledge about a procedure that an RRT should be able to perform, inability to perform the procedure, or incorrect judgment as to whether the procedure is required. This also includes failure to perform the procedure, not because of any lack of knowledge, skill, or judgment, but because of inadequate concern for the patient.

“Professional misconduct” includes conduct that:

• harms the best interests of the public or other RRTs (for example, a failure to cooperate with other health care professionals)

• tends to harm the RRT profession (for example, disseminating dangerous false information on a health care subject)

• is a breach of The Respiratory Therapists Act (Act) or the bylaws, including the Code of Ethics (for example, a breach of the Code of Ethics)

• is a failure to comply with an order of the Professional Conduct Committee, the Discipline Committee, or the SCRT Council (for example, a breach of a prior disciplinary order constitutes a new offence. Concerns about the administrative processes of a facility must be raised directly with the facility administration personnel.)