What does incapacitated mean?
The Health Professions Procedural Code, being Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, defines the term “incapacitated” as meaning that a registrant is suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder that makes it desirable in the interest of the public that the registrant’s certificate of registration be subject to terms, conditions or limitations, or that the registrant no longer be permitted to practise.
A registrant with a physical or mental disability that has been properly addressed may not necessarily meet the definition of incapacitated; for example, a person who uses a wheelchair in an accessible workplace, or a person who has a mental health or substance use condition who takes appropriate measures to manage their condition may not meet the definition.
Incapacitated registrants may suffer from:
- Physical illness
- Mental illness
- Mood disorders
- Substance use disorder
- Certain physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities
- Other
Warning Signs
Many professionals who suffer from substance use challenges or who have an emotional or psychiatric disorder may experience various levels of deterioration in different facets of their personal lives. They are often still able to function professionally when other parts of their lives are not functioning, as work is often the last place to deteriorate — especially if the incapacity involves drug use. As a result, a person’s incapacity may have already escalated to a significant degree before it is observed in the workplace. The following are some typical, well-documented, warning signs for behaviours of a registrant who maybe incapacitated:
Physical changes
- Change in appearance/poor hygiene
- Tired appearance/insomnia
- Frequent shaking and/or sweating
- Loss of appetite/weight loss
- Slurred speech
Behavioural Changes
- Mood swings
- Memory loss or blackouts
- Withdrawal from friends and social activity
- Extreme anger, mistrust, anxiousness, depression, irritability
- Frequent work breaks
- Denial of having “problems” or need to be helped
Performance Changes
- Increased disorganization
- Increased number of prescription errors
- Increased number of customer complaints
- Frequent absences
- Lack of concentration or focus
Narcotic Shortages of Narcotics or Controlled Substances (in the case of substance use challenges)
- Shortages associated with the registrant ’s work schedule
- The registrant asks to have special narcotic responsibilities
- The registrant volunteers/asks to work shifts when the fewest staff are available