You are here: / Professional Discipline

  • Our Areas of Practice

    We defend all criminal charges with skill and dedication.

    Vancouver at night

Professional Discipline

& Non-Academic Misconduct Investigations

The Allegation

Professionals in various fields, including health, education, engineering, and law, are responsible to their various commissions, colleges or societies to abide by standards of conduct that are set out by regulation. When allegations are brought forward that a member has violated a rule of conduct, the professional may face an investigation and enforcement action brought by the organization of which they are a member. In British Columbia, there is statutory authority for various organizations to be self-regulating, with respect to the rules and regulations of membership. Such organizations include:

  • College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia,
  • College of Pharmacists of British Columbia,
  • College of Psychologists of British Columbia;
  • College of Registered Massage Therapists of British Columbia,
  • Law Society of British Columbia;
  • British Columbia Securities Commission,
  • BC Teacher’s Council

Post-secondary institutions – universities, colleges and technical schools – also have the power to self-regulate the behavior of students and staff under academic and non-academic misconduct policies. For example, under the University of British Columbia’s Sexual Assault and Other Sexual Misconduct Policy, a complaint can be brought against a student or faculty member which can result in termination of employment or expulsion from academic studies.

The Investigation

Professional bodies and post-secondary institutions may investigate complaints alone, or in parallel with police investigators. The rules imposed by the professional body are civil in nature and are markedly different from the laws provided under the Criminal Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For example, in a criminal investigation, a suspect has the right to remain silent. This is not the case in a professional or student misconduct allegation. To the contrary, a subject of a misconduct complaint has the obligation to cooperate in the investigation at the risk of maintaining their professional credentials or right to continue their studies.

Because on one hand there is an obligation to cooperate and on the other there is the right to remain silent, a person facing a professional misconduct allegation must exercise caution so as to not give up the right against self-incrimination in the criminal law context.

Recent Successes

R. v. M.M. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Theft Under $5000 (shoplifting).
Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution in this $900 shoplifting case.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel about our client's personal circumstances, resulting in Crown referring our client to the Alternative Measures program. No criminal record.

R. v. J.Z. & Q.M. – Insurance Fraud Investigation

Charges: Fraud Over $5,000.
Issue: Whether our client's were responsible for approximately $15,000 in false claims unknowingly made in their names by a health care provider.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to settle with the insurance provider. No criminal charges were forwarded against our clients. Mr. Gauthier was also able to assist with the first steps of recovering the funds from the dishonest health care provider. No criminal record.

R. v. V.N. – Surrey Provincial Court

Charges: Sexual Assault (police investigation).
Issue: Whether there was sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. Gauthier opposed the police application to extend the time period they could continue to retain seized evidence and he provided advice to our client in steering him through the investigation. The matter concluded with no criminal charges being forwarded to Crown. No criminal record.

R. v. R.T. – Insurance Fraud Investigation

Charge: Insurance Fraud Under $5,000 investigation.
Issue: Given our client's rehabilitation and repayment of disputed claims, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade the insurance company to settle the matter on a civil basis. No criminal charges forwarded. No criminal record.

R. v. G. A.G. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Assault (domestic).
Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a conviction in this case.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel that, given the lack of cooperation by the complainant, that there was no prospect of a conviction. Crown counsel did not approve any charges and, on Mr. Mines' representations, agreed to cancel the scheduled court date and to direct police to cancel our client's Undertaking to Appear. No criminal record.

R. v. L.M. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Mischief Over $5000.
Issue: Whether Crown could prove the value of damage alleged to have been caused by our client.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel that because it could not accurately prove the value of damage, and that our client had taken appropriate steps of self-rehabilitation,  Crown elected to not approve any charges. No criminal record.

R. v. H.K. – Port Coquitlam Provincial Court

Charge: Assault.
Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution in this "road rage" case.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel about our client's personal circumstances and the circumstances of the incident which resulted in Crown staying the charge after our client completed Alternative Measures. No criminal record.

R. v. J.S. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Uttering Threats (x3).
Issue: Whether or not our client was entitled to be sentenced to a conditional discharge rather than being convicted of this offence.
Result: Upon hearing Mr. Gauthier's submissions on our client's behalf, the Court granted our client a conditional discharge rather than entering a conviction. No criminal record.

R. v. S.G. – Surrey Provincial Court

Charges: Assault; Mischief. Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps that we guided our client through and advocating on her behalf that there was a reasonable self defence issue, whether there was a substantial likelihood of securing a conviction.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel that there was no substantial likelihood of a conviction. Ultimately Crown entered a stay of proceedings. No criminal conviction. No criminal record.

R. v. K.B.K. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: B&E; Assault; Distribute Intimate Images.
Issue: Whether the Crown could comply with a defence disclosure request and possibly face a Charter application to have charges stayed due to unreasonable delay.
Result: On the eve of the trial, Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown to allow our client to plead guilty to the least serious charge, assault by slapping. Crown nonetheless sought a conviction and probation, but after hearing Mr. Mines' submissions, the trial judge granted our client a conditional discharge. No criminal conviction.

R. v. C.B.S. – Richmond Provincial Court

Charges: B&E; Assault; Distribute Intimate Images.
Issue: Whether the Crown could comply with a defence disclosure request and possibly face a Charter application to have charges stayed due to unreasonable delay.
Result: On the eve of the trial, Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown to allow our client to plead guilty to the least serious charge, assault by slapping. Crown nonetheless sought a conviction and probation, but after hearing Mr. Mines' submissions, the trial judge granted our client a conditional discharge. No criminal conviction.

R. v. V.L. – Vancouver Provincial Youth Court

Charge: Assault.
Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our client through, whether there was a public interest in proceeding with criminal charges.
Result: After providing Crown counsel with our client's positive psychological counselling report, Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel to enter a stay of proceedings. No criminal record.
View All

The Defence

Our over 30 years’ experience as defence counsel provides us with the skill and judgement necessary to guide clients through a professional misconduct complaint, whether alone or in conjunction with a criminal investigation. From the complaint, through the investigation, to the hearing, we can provide strategies and advice that will protect your rights and that is aimed at obtaining the best possible solution. Our goal is to help keep our clients working or studying in their chosen field.

Start with a free consultation.

If you are being investigated by police or if you’ve been charged with a criminal or driving offence, don’t face the problem alone. Being accused of an offence is stressful. The prospects of a criminal record or jail sentence can be daunting. Even if you think there is no defence, we may be able to help. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Vancouver lawyers, contact us now.

Connect