Finding 

The panel of the Discipline Committee issued a decision on the finding, penalty and costs on June 30, 2025.

After having considered all the evidence, the panel found Spruha Vaishnav to have committed the following acts of professional misconduct:

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);
• paragraph 18 (engaging in conduct or performing an act relevant to the practice of the profession that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional);
• paragraph 28 (signing or issuing a document containing a statement that the member knows or ought to know is false or misleading);
• paragraph 32 (submitting an account or charge for services that the member knows or ought to know is false or misleading); and
• paragraph 41 (failing to supervise in accordance with the standards of practice of the profession)

Penalty

The panel ordered the following penalty, Spruha Vaishnav will:

• receive a verbal reprimand (delivered June 30, 2025)
• serve an eight-month suspension (to be served from August 18, 2025 to March 20, 2026)
  • this suspension could be extended by seven months if certain requirements are not met
• review relevant Standards and resources
• successfully complete the PROBE ethics course offered through CPEP
• participate in practice enhancement coaching

While serving the suspensions, Spruha Vaishnav cannot:

• use the title Physiotherapist, PT or any abbreviation thereof nor can their name, PT title and/or registration number be used for billing purposes.
• provide services as a physiotherapist assistant (PTA)

The panel also ordered Spruha Vaishnav to pay costs to the College in the amount of $7,000 to offset some of the costs associated with investigating and prosecuting this case.

As a part of the penalty, the Committee issued a reprimand which read as follows:

Ms. Vaishnav, being a physiotherapist is not a right, but rather a privilege that comes with responsibilities. This includes appropriate business practices, good record keeping, and proper use of support personnel. It allows us to ensure proper billing practices, facilitate continuity of care, and assist in demonstrating the clinical decision making required to help our patients. 

Your actions constitute serious and objectionable misconduct, and this panel wishes to advise you that this profession will not tolerate the behaviour. Protecting the profession’s integrity demands zero tolerance for inappropriate business practices.

We acknowledge your cooperation and actions related to this disciplinary investigation and process. As a profession, we must maintain the confidence of the public and all involved stakeholders. Your conduct shows disregard for the College standards, undermine the public and third party funders’ trust, and brings disrepute to the profession.

Finally, as a practice owner, your position as a leader requires that you lead by example and always adhere to the profession’s standards of practice. The panel is disappointed that you chose the path you did and hopes that you learn to appreciate the responsibility and privilege bestowed upon you as a physiotherapist.

We hope that you will take this disciplinary process as a learning experience, and we expect you will not appear again at a disciplinary hearing with this College. However, if you reappear for similar conduct, the consequences will be more serious.

You can read the full decision of the Discipline Committee of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario on CanLII (www.canlii.org)