College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) Defence Lawyers

Medical technologists, like many other professionals in Canada, must be adequately educated, licensed and regulated by the province in which they practice. Each province will regulate their professionals in their own way. Each province in Canada is responsible for regulating the professionals working within that province.

In Ontario, the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists is the body responsible for overseeing and regulating the practice of medical technology across the province. The aim of the CMLTO is to protect public interest through the regulation of professionals who are responsible for conducting lab tests in Ontario.

Some of the College’s main functions include developing the requirements for qualification and practice, establishing standards of knowledge, skill and competence to be abided by, developing and maintaining professional ethics for its members, promoting the ethos of the Regulated Health Professions Act, enhancing relations with other medical professionals and the public at large, etc. The College is also the body that addresses any complaints that are made against a medical technologist.

The practice of medical laboratory technology is a medical profession that,  like all other regulated health professions in Ontario, is regulated  by the Regulated Health Professions Act 1991 and the Health Professions Procedural Code, and the regulations made under them.

The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario itself is established under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act 1991 which defines the scope of practice available to its members as well as which acts they are authorized to perform. Further, members of the College must also abide by the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Legal Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do Medical Technologists Do?
The Responsibilities of Medical Technologists
Can a Medical Technologist Give Test Results Directly to a Patient?
Becoming a Medical Technologist
Mandatory Reporting by Employers, Business Associates and Facility Operators

What Do Medical Technologists Do?

Medical technologists are responsible for performing lab tests on blood, bodily fluids, cells and tissues.  The results of the tests will then be taken and relayed to other health professionals in order to deliver to the patient the best and most suitable care possible. Medical technologists can work in a number of medical fields, ranging from clinical chemistry to haematology to transfusion science.  Medical technology is a controlled practice and only individuals who are registered with the College may use the title of ‘medical laboratory technologist’. Due to the sensitive nature of the practice, medical technologists are subject to a specific scope of practice, but may expand such scope through delegation and medical directives. A medical directive is a an order made by a health professional to allow another health professional to conduct a test or procedure under certain conditions, while a delegation refers to a process by which a health professional delegates a certain medical practice to another health professional. This allows health professionals from different practices to be able to seamlessly practice interprofessional care.

The Responsibilities of Medical Technologists

Medical technologists must abide by the relevant legislations governing the practice, and other health professions in Ontario as well as the College’s Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct. A failure to do so could result in an  investigation by the College’s Inquiries, Complaints an Reports Committee and/or Discipline Committee.

Medical technologists must also be aware of their patient’s needs and provide care objectively, but also with regard for the patient’s wishes, explain procedures thoroughly and clearly, respect cultural sensitivities and privacy. They must also avoid any form of sexual relations with their patients and respect the patient’s rights to withdraw consent to any form of care. Medical technologists must not use patient’s confidential information or their position to advantage themselves in any way, give or receive gifts to/from a patient in a manner that may compromise the professional relationship, and should generally avoid providing professional services to a patient with whom they also have a personal relationship with (such as a family member, friend or co-worker).

Can a Medical Technologist Give Test Results Directly to the Patient?

According to the Regulated Health Professions Act, medical technologists are not allowed to directly communicate test results/ a diagnosis to a patient. However, it may be possible for this act to be delegated by another health professional to the medical technologist where appropriate.

Becoming a Medical Technologist

To become a registered Medical Technologist in in Ontario, an individual must first meet education requirements by participating in an accredited educational program recognized  by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists. A list of accredited and registered programs may be found on the Accreditation Canada website. Following this, the individual must register with the College and pay a registration fee, include relevant supporting documents, as well as an annual renewal fee. The application will typically be processed within 3 weeks, with the applicant being notified of the Registration Committee’s decision within 6-8 weeks.

Mandatory Reporting by Employers, Business Associates and Facility Operators

Employers and business associates must make a report to the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists when a medical technologist is facing a restriction on practise, has been suspended, has had their employment terminated, or if a business relationship has ended due to the medical technologist facing a charge of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. Facility operators must also report a medical technologist from their facility if they have been found to be incompetent, incapacitated, or has sexually abused a patient.

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