Unlike child abuse/ neglect, there are NO federal laws in Canada that make the reporting of elder abuse/neglect mandatory, and the Criminal Code does not identify elder abuse as a specific crime. Physicians similarly do not have a duty to report a criminal offence related to elder abuse to the police. In fact, this would generally be considered a breach of confidentiality.

What is elder abuse?
The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as "a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person."Elder abuse includes neglect, such as failing to provide necessary care or causing social isolation which can impact a person’s health and well-being.

Our Current Situation

When physicians and other care providers see evidence of possible elder abuse, they should instinctively strive to do what’s best for their patient. The identification, assessment, and management of elder abuse cases are increasingly seen as important aspects of routine medical care, though determining what actions to take can be challenging for physicians.

However, we should not be relying on the instincts of healthcare workers, nor should we limit this responsibility to only those who work in healthcare. It should be a legal requirement of every person in Canada to report suspected abuse or neglect of an elderly person. 

Additionally, we need to ensure that every province has a clear and well executed framework for reporting these instances.

Please sign and share this petition to tell our government that this is something Canadians expect.

Information taken from https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca and their respective sources.