All health professionals who are regulated under the HPA have a professional, ethical and legal responsibility to report any unsafe practice or professional misconduct of any other regulated health practitioner.

Dentists and certified dental assistants must report any members of other health professional colleges if they believe the public is at risk because the practitioner is not competent or is suffering from a physical or mental ailment, emotional disturbance or alcohol/drug addiction that impairs their ability to practise.

Sexual misconduct must also be reported. Where concerns about sexual misconduct are based on information from a patient, the consent of the patient or their parent/guardian must be obtained before making the report.

The HPA provides immunity to health professionals who comply with the duty to report as long as the report is made in good faith and is based on reasonable and probable grounds.