A Review ofBoard of Health Liability

James A. LeNoury

LeNoury Law

Counsel to alPHa

February 5th, 2015

Overview

• Part 1 - General Liabilities of Directors:– statutory liability

– prior to accepting a Directorship

– determining liability

– due diligence

• Part 2 -Specific Public Health Liabilities:– the statutory liability

exemption

– Board duties and responsibilities

– Board governance

– no exemptions

– insurance

General Liabilities of Directors

Statutory Liability– Income Tax, Employment Insurance and WSIB– Employment Standards Act– Occupational Health and Safety– Human Rights Code

General Liabilities of Directors

Prior to Accepting a Directorship– Request and receive a written job description detailing

the specific responsibilities expected of a director and what committees you may be expected to sit on

– Request and take the opportunity to review board and committee minutes of the past 2 or 3 years to give you an understanding of the issues that the board has been dealing with

– Attend the orientation program for new board members. If one does not exist, request an orientation

General Liabilities of Directors

Prior to Accepting a Directorship (Continued)

– Request and receive a report on the current areas of concern and focus for the board of Directors

– Inquire whether the board has formal policies for compliance with its regulatory requirements, including the ones reviewed above

– Request and receive confirmation that the Board has indemnification bylaws and insurance for its directors

General Liabilities of Directors

Determining Liability– Conduct falls short of the established standard

of care– “reasonably prudent person”– May be higher in some circumstances

General Liabilities of Directors

Due Diligence– Putting in place a system for preventing non compliance

– Training employees in applying the system;

– Documentation

– Monitoring and adjusting the system

– Ensuring that adequate authority is given to the appropriate employees

– Planning remedial action in case the system fails at any point

Specific Public Health Liabilities

The Statutory Liability ExemptionSection 95 (1) states:

• No action or other proceeding for damages or otherwise shall be instituted against a member of a board of health, a Medical Officer of Health, and Associate Medical Officer of Health of a board of health, an Acting Medical Officer of Health of a board of health or a Public Health Inspector for any act done in good faith in the execution or the intended execution of any duty or power under this Act, or, for any alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of any such duty or

power.

Specific Public Health Liabilities

The Statutory Liability Exemption (continued)

Section 95 (2) states:• that the protection from personal liability does not apply to

prevent an application for judicial review of an action, or an order, nor does it prevent a proceeding such as an appeal to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, or to prevent an

inquiry that is specifically provided for in the HPPA.

Specific Public Health Liabilities

The Statutory Liability Exemption (continued)

Section 95 (4) states:• No action or other proceeding shall be instituted against a

person for making a report in good faith in respect of a communicable disease or a reportable disease in accordance

with Part IV (Communicable Diseases).

Specific Public Health Liabilities

The Statutory Liability Exemption (continued)

Section 95 (3) states:• subsection (1) does not relieve a Board of Health from liability

for damage caused by negligence of or action without authority by a person referred to in subsection (1), and a Board of Health is liable for such damage in the same manner as if

subsection (1) had not been enacted.

General Liabilities of Directors

Determining Liability– Conduct falls short of the established standard

of care– “reasonably prudent person”– May be higher in some circumstances

Specific Public Health Liabilities

The Statutory Liability Exemption (continued)

Limitations Act, Section 4 states:• Unless this Act provides otherwise, a proceeding

shall not be commenced in respect of a claim after the second anniversary of the day the claim was discovered.

Specific Public Health Liabilities

Knowledge of Duties and Responsibilities

Within the HPPA, it outlines:Section 4 - duties

Section 5 - programs and services

Section 6 - public health services to school pupils

Section 7 - Minister may publish guidelines

Section 8 - qualifies Section 7

Section 9 - provision of additional services

Specific Public Health Liabilities

Knowledge of Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Section 12 - MOH to be informed on matters of occupational and

environmental issues

Section 13 - MOH or PHI to issue orders in respect of health hazards

Section 61 - Board to superintend these duties

Specific Public Health Liabilities

Board Governance– Review policies, procedures and practices– Must be assured staff are carrying out specified

functions– Have standing item on agenda MOH report on

compliance with required obligations under the HPPA

– Have Duty of Care Report submitted at each Board meeting

Specific Public Health Liabilities

No Exemptions– Krever Inquiry into the Blood Tragedy

• Everyone’s responsibility to to ensure the integrity of the public health system, especially its governors

• Section 42 of the HPPA outlines obstruction of the duties of an MOH and a PHI

Specific Public Health Liabilities

Insurance– Anyone can be subject to a claim of negligence– Review insurance coverage and ensure

adequate coverage is maintained

In Summary

• Statutory protection for Boards operating in good faith

• Board members must be aware of general duties, responsibilities and obligations under the HPPA and other pertinent legislation

A Review ofBoard of Health Liability

James A. LeNoury

LeNoury Law

Counsel to alPHa

February 5th, 2015