• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2013). CRTO Social Media Policy. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Policies/PR_Social_Media_103.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2014). Zero Tolerance of Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse. Position Statement. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Positions/sexual-abuse.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2014). Abuse Awareness and Prevention. Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/PPG/abuse.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2015). Respiratory Therapists Providing Education. Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/PPG/MembersAsEducators.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists et al. (2013). Pause Before You Post: Social Media Awareness for Regulated Healthcare Professionals E-learning Module. Available at http://www.crto.on.ca/members/professional-development/e-learning/
• National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: http://www.csrt.com/2016-national-competency-framework/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2009). Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Care Practitioners: Lessons from Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Available at: http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/handbook-sensitivve-practices4healthcare.pdf

Abuse refers to “treating others in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way.”[1]

Communicates refers to “give or exchange thoughts, feelings, information… by writing, speaking, etc.; to exchange thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.”[2] It implies a two-way communication process between the speaker and recipient involving active listening and reception.

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated).”[3]

Informed consent means that the information relating to the treatment must be received and understood by the patient/client.[4]

Patients/clients refer to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[5]

Professional boundaries set the limitations around relationships between patients/clients, health care providers, students, and others to ensure the delivery of safe, ethical, patient/client-centred care. Professional boundaries are characterized by respectful, trusting, and ethical interactions with patients/clients that are free of abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.[6]

Professional relationships refer to “the connections/interactions of RTs with service providers, students, and others.”[6]

Sensitive practice refers to the application of the principles of respect, taking time, rapport, sharing information, sharing control, respecting boundaries, fostering mutual learning, understanding nonlinear healing and demonstrating awareness and knowledge of interpersonal violence.[7]

Therapeutic relationships refer to “the connections/interactions of RTs with their patients/clients.”[8]