General conduct: on and off the job

1Standard 1.5 in four lines

1. Refrain from illegal conduct relevant to your suitability to practise (1.5.1).
2. Do not practise when you ought to know your ability is impaired (1.5.2).
3. Treat employees, co-workers, students and others you work or study with with respect (1.5.3).
4. Refrain at all times from conduct members would reasonably regard as disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional or unbecoming (1.5.4).

2In practice, or outside it

• Disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional: behaviour in the course of practising that goes beyond legitimate discretion or errors in judgment (O. Reg. 317/12, para. 52).
• Conduct unbecoming: behaviour outside the practice that casts doubt on your integrity or brings the profession into disrepute (para. 53), online included.
• It usually involves dishonesty (such as fraud) or a serious breach of trust (such as child abuse).
• It does not include trivial behaviour in your personal life, or aspects of your identity protected by human rights law.

3Impairment and incapacity

• Practising while you know or ought to know a condition, dysfunction or substance impairs you is misconduct (para. 41).
• Monitor your physical and mental health and seek help when needed.
• Incapacity: a condition that makes it desirable, in the public interest, to limit your certificate or stop you practising.

4Illegal conduct

• Breaking a law in Canada is misconduct if the law protects or promotes public health (para. 43 i).
• Or if it is relevant to your suitability to practise (para. 43 ii).
• Report findings of guilt, charges and bail conditions yourself (Code ss. 85.6.1 to 85.6.4; see the jurisprudence sheet).

5What CRPO's policy counts as relevant

• Likely relevant: dishonesty (fraud, plagiarism); breach of trust or authority, sexual misconduct included; harassment or disrespect; neglecting obligations; services not in a client's best interest; discrimination on a Human Rights Code ground; violence.
• CRPO weighs: whether it happened in practice, public trust, harm or risk, a pattern, intent, time since, remorse, insight and remediation, and safeguards such as supervision.

6Meeting the standard

• Practise with integrity and professionalism.
• Consider the impact of your actions on the profession as a whole.
• Assess your actions as a panel of professional peers would.
• Consult a clinical supervisor, case consultant, another RP or CRPO when unsure.