Governing Regulatory Bodies
Physicians and Surgeons
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) regulates all medical doctors and surgeons in the Province of Ontario.
Under CPSO policy, a doctor cannot legally or ethically deny you gender affirming care based on personal bias. When a doctor gatekeeps or discriminates, it is CPSO that will hold that doctor legally accountable.
CPSO requires that doctors provide a timely and effective referral to another provider when they deem gender affirming care as beyond their clinical competency.
Nurses
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) regulates all nurses in Ontario. This includes Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs). CNO is an important regulatory body as many trans people in Ontario receive their gender affirming care from NPs.
CNO will hold the nurse responsbile if an NP or a clinical nurse is transphobic, refuses to provide standard care, or violates your boundaries.
Pharmacists
The Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) regulates pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the Province of Ontario. Trans people often interact with pharmacies whether it is for hormone therapy or post-operative medications.
Pharmacists cannot deny you access to prescribed medications due to ‘moral objections.’ Should a pharmacist have a personal objection, they are legally required to arrange for another pharmacist to fill your prescription.
The OCP holds pharmacists accountable if they refuse to fill your prescriptions, gatekeeps your files, or harass you at the pharmacy.
Reporting A Provider
| Body | Website/Guide |
|---|---|
| CPSO feedback@cpso.on.ca 1-800-268-7096 (ext. 603) |
CPSO Complaints and Concerns |
| CNO PublicComplaints@cnomail.org 1-877-963-7503 |
CNO Make a Complaint CNO Adresssing Complaints Process Guide |
| OCP intakes@ocpinfo.com 1-800-220-1921 (ext. 3800) |
OCP File a Complaint |
Patient Ombudsman of Ontario
Description from CPSO:
The Patient Ombudsman’s role is to respond to and help resolve complaints from current or former patients or their caregivers about their care or experiences with public hospitals, long-term care homes, and home and community care support service organizations.
- Patinet Ombudsman Complaints
- Phone: 1-888-321-0339
London Region Health Organisations
Below is a list of London region healthcare organisations and their patient relations department.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC)
- Patient Relations (LHSC)
- Contact Form
- 519-685-8500 (ext. 58230)
- Patient Relations Brochure
- Questions, Comments or Concerns
St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHC-London)
- Patient Relations (SJHC-London)
- 519-646-6100 (ext. 61234)
- patientrelations@sjhc.london.on.ca
- General Feedback