Are there any exceptions to the Section 18 (1) (b) obligation?

If you have any questions or concerns about your ethical obligations, or are considering filing an adverse 
report about colleague and want to discuss it, contact staff in professional relations (PRS) at 416-962-
3836 or 1-888-838-3836.

Yes. The Student Protection Act 2002 added a new subsection (2) to Section 12 of the Teaching Profession 
Act

 ...” a member who makes an adverse report about another member respecting suspected sexual 

abuse of a student by that other member need NOT provide him or her with a copy of the report or with 
any information about the report.”

This makes it clear that the obligation to notify another teacher in writing of an adverse report does not 
apply to allegations of sexual abuse of students.

What to do?

If you have reason to believe that a colleague has made an adverse report about you and has not informed 
you of this within 72 hours, consider:

O speaking to the teacher about your concerns; and
O speaking to professional relations staff (PRS) for advice.

Professionalism is at the core of our being as teachers. Professionals support each other and 
approach problems with the attitude that they can work together to solve their concerns. Maintaining 
professionalism should be foremost in the way you conduct yourself in the workplace.

Sabrina’s Law – An Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils

Administering an epinephrine autoinjector (e.g., the EpiPen®, Twinject®) could save a life. Failure to 

do so could result in serious illness or death. Members of ETFO must know their rights and responsibilities 
with regard to administering autoinjectors.

Sabrina’s Law

Sabrina’s Law, an Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils, was named after a student who died of anaphylactic 
shock following exposure in her school.

This law came into effect in 2006. It protects students with life threatening allergies. It requires all school 
boards to establish and maintain an anaphylactic policy, which must include strategies to reduce risk of 
exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas.

E

 The school board must develop a communication plan to share information on life threatening 

allergies with parents, pupils, and employees. This plan should include information on the 
symptoms of anaphylactic shock.

E

 The school board must provide training on dealing with life threatening allergies for all 

employees who are in regular contact with students.

E

 The school board must ensure there is a storage plan for autoinjectors, and that there is a plan 

for using them in emergency situations.

Members are 
advised to consult 
professional 
relations staff in 
protective services 
at 416-962-3836 or  
1-888-838-3836 for 
additional advice if 
concerned about a 
possible conflict of 
interest.

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