Type: Undertakings

Registrant: Dr. Richard Freeman (Former Registrant No. 565)  

Date: March 28, 2022

Status: Not In Effect

Nature of Action: The Former Registrant voluntarily agreed to undertakings under section 36(1)(d) of the Health Professions Act placing his practice under ongoing supervision, and imposing additional limits and conditions on his practice. Those conditions include:

  • requirements to have a chaperone present when seeing female patients in his hospital practice, and to confine his hospital practice to his assessment role;
  • not accepting female patients in his private practice;
  • restrictions on physical contact with clients (other than salutary handshakes); and
  • limitations on the use of text messaging and e-mail to communicate with female clients (other than the use of e-mail for scheduling or other administrative communications).

Reasons: The College received a complaint from a patient who saw the Former Registrant for an outpatient assessment through a hospital setting, alleging that the Former Registrant crossed professional boundaries. Although the Inquiry Committee was unable to make a conclusive determination of the Complainant’s allegations, the Former Registrant voluntarily agreed to limits and conditions on his practice to address the Complainant’s reported experience of their interactions.

All public notifications pertaining to this registrant can be viewed by clicking the following
Return to All Public Notifications

The College mandate is to regulate the profession of psychology in the public interest by setting the standards for competent and ethical practice, promoting excellence, and taking action when standards are not met. The complaint process is an important part of ensuring quality and accountability in the provision of psychological services in British Columbia

Types of Public Notifications

Failure to Authorize a Criminal Record Check The Inquiry Committee may impose limits or conditions on, suspend, or cancel a registered psychologist if he/she fails to authorize a criminal record check pursuant to the Criminal Records Review Act.

Notice of Resignations During Investigation The College will notify the public if a registered psychologist has resigned his/her registration with the College during the investigation into a complain matter or during a discipline hearing.

Undertakings The registrant may enter into an agreement with the College for the purpose of resolving a complaint matter. These agreements may or may not contain admissions of wrongdoing (made by the registered psychologist). These agreements may involve a period of supervision and/or placing limitations on the registrant’s practice for a certain length of time in order to address the issues(s) identified in the complaint and investigation process. The College monitors these agreements to ensure compliance. Some agreements may be subject to extension.

Citations The College may send a registered psychologist a citation, which is a charging document that requires the Discipline Committee conduct a hearing into a complaint matter unless an undertaking agreement can be reached. Citations issues by the Inquiry Committee under section 37 of the Health Professions Act involved allegations which are and remain unproven unless admitted by a registrant or determined by the Discipline Committee.

Decisions of the Discipline Committee A decision report will be posted on the College website outlining the findings and/or actions taken against a registered psychologist after the Discipline Committee panel has conducted a discipline hearing.