The importance of professional liability insurance: Securing your career investments

• Published in: Occupational Therapy Now Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 7 - 8
• Main Authors: Lambert, Marie-Laurence, Wan, Karen Ng
• Format: Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Employers; Field study; Insurance coverage; Legal fees; Liability insurance; Occupational therapy; Professional liability; Therapists; Canada; Montreal Quebec Canada
• ISSN: 1481-5532

Mr. Ostola mentioned that complaints to provincial regulatory bodies are increasing across many health care professions, and practitioners may be required to defend themselves in an investigation. [...]it is important to ensure that the PLI you purchase will protect you in the event of a complaint to your regulatory organization. [...]the CAOT PLI is valid for any of a member's professional services as long as the policyholder follows the profession's recognized code of ethics and practice guidelines and is working within her or his scope of practice as an occupational therapist. The following list provides examples of questions that may guide Canadian occupational therapists to make a sound decision about coverage: * Do I envision working in a different Canadian province this year and will this plan be valid across the country? * Am I involved in volunteer work as an occupational therapist and does this plan cover me in that role? * Will I pursue any hands-on occupational therapy training out of the country and will this plan cover me if so? * Does this plan cover my past practice decisions, and what is the extent of this coverage? * Does this PLI plan cover: o the costs of my defense against criminal charges? o the costs of my defense against charges from a regulatory organization? * What is the total amount of the coverage offered and is it enough in the context of my practice?