{"id":31490,"date":"2026-07-24T22:52:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/?page_id=31490"},"modified":"2026-07-25T00:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T00:48:38","slug":"what-happens-during-a-manitoba-association-of-optometrists-mao-investigation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/what-happens-during-a-manitoba-association-of-optometrists-mao-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens during a Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) investigation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"31490\" class=\"elementor elementor-31490\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2a0c78 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a2a0c78\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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.disc{font-size:.79rem;line-height:1.55;color:var(--muted);border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-top:20px;margin-top:2.6rem;font-style:italic;}\r\n@media(max-width:640px){.hec-canart .cgrid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}.hec-canart{font-size:16px;}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<article class=\"hec-canart\">\r\n  <nav class=\"crumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\">Knowledge &amp; Support<\/a><span>\/<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/optometrists-opticians\/manitoba\/\">Optometrists &amp; Opticians &mdash; Manitoba<\/a><span>\/<\/span>What happens during a Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) investigation?<\/nav>\r\n  <p class=\"eyebrow\">Manitoba &middot; Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO)<\/p>\r\n  <h1>What happens during a Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) investigation?<\/h1>\r\n  <div class=\"meta\"><b>9 min read<\/b><span>Last updated July 15, 2026<\/span><\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"lede\">An MAO matter begins with the <strong>Complaints Committee&rsquo;s preliminary investigation<\/strong> and, if the concern is serious, moves to a <strong>Discipline Committee<\/strong> hearing that is generally open to the public. The point most Manitoba optometrists should hold onto is the one at the end: unlike some Manitoba professions, <em>The Optometry Act<\/em> gives you a genuine <strong>right of appeal to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n  <div class=\"callout\"><p><strong>Keep your insurer and lawyer engaged, and preserve everything.<\/strong> An investigation can lead to a public hearing with real consequences, so treat it as serious from day one. Keep your professional liability insurer involved, preserve every record and message, meet every deadline, and be scrupulously honest in what you provide. Opticians should follow the Opticians of Manitoba process instead.<\/p><\/div>\r\n  <h2>The preliminary investigation<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Every MAO matter starts the same way: a written complaint is forwarded to the Complaints Committee, to you for a response, and to the Registrar, and the Complaints Committee conducts a <strong>preliminary investigation<\/strong>. This stage decides whether the concern can be resolved short of a hearing or whether it needs to go to the Discipline Committee.<\/p>\r\n  <p>What the investigation examines maps onto the two grounds the Act is concerned with: <strong>professional misconduct<\/strong> and <strong>unskilled practice<\/strong>. A conduct concern (for example honesty, boundaries or consent) and a competence concern (for example the standard of examination or diagnosis) are assessed differently, and identifying which is in play helps you and your advisers respond to the right thing.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Your records and cooperation<\/h2>\r\n  <p>The investigation will rely heavily on your clinical records, so provide what is asked for, on time and in full. Do not edit, back-date or reconstruct notes &mdash; their integrity will be scrutinised, and tampering converts a defensible clinical concern into an indefensible integrity one. If a record is thin or missing, say so plainly and explain why.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Cooperation is itself part of being a professional. Failing to engage, or engaging obstructively, removes any credit you would otherwise earn and can compound the original concern. The most persuasive position in an investigation is a practitioner who has engaged openly and can show a clear, contemporaneous record.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Interim suspension during the investigation<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Where a complaint raises a question of serious risk to the public, the Complaints Committee may suspend your <strong>certificate of registration<\/strong> pending the outcome of its investigation and any discipline hearing. This is uncommon and reserved for the most serious matters, but it is a real possibility in cases involving patient safety or integrity.<\/p>\r\n  <p>If it happens, you are not without recourse: the Act allows a member to <strong>appeal the suspension to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench<\/strong>. Get representation immediately, because the suspension appeal is where your ability to keep practising while the matter is resolved is argued.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Referral to the Discipline Committee<\/h2>\r\n  <p>If the Complaints Committee &mdash; or, on a complainant&rsquo;s appeal, the Appeals Committee &mdash; refers the matter, a <strong>Discipline Committee<\/strong> is struck to hold a formal hearing. Serious matters constituting alleged professional misconduct or unskilled practice are the ones that reach this stage.<\/p>\r\n  <p>The Discipline Committee is a proper tribunal. For the purpose of a hearing, its members (and council) have the <strong>powers of a commissioner under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act<\/strong>, which means it can compel evidence. After the hearing it submits a written report of its findings, its recommendations and a transcript of the evidence to council. You are entitled to know the charge, to be represented, and to answer the evidence against you.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>The hearing: generally public<\/h2>\r\n  <p>A distinctive feature of the optometry process is that Discipline Committee hearings are <strong>generally open to the public<\/strong>, while the confidentiality of both the practitioner&rsquo;s and the complainant&rsquo;s identity must be respected. That openness raises the stakes and makes proper preparation and representation essential.<\/p>\r\n  <p>The Committee decides whether the allegation of professional misconduct or unskilled practice is made out. As with regulatory hearings generally, the case is determined on the balance of probabilities rather than the criminal standard, so the way your evidence and your account are presented carries real weight.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Findings, penalties and appeals<\/h2>\r\n  <p>If the Discipline Committee finds an optometrist guilty of professional misconduct or unskilled practice, it may order a <strong>reprimand, suspension (with or without conditions), restrictions or conditions on practice, repayment of fees, revocation of registration, and\/or fines and the costs of the hearing<\/strong>. The range runs from the corrective to the career-ending, which is why engagement and remediation from an early stage matter so much.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Crucially, an investigated optometrist <strong>may appeal a decision of the Discipline Committee to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench<\/strong>. This is a genuine statutory appeal &mdash; a meaningful difference from some other Manitoba regulators &mdash; but it is far better to get the hearing itself right than to rely on an appeal, so engage fully and be properly represented throughout.<\/p>\r\n  <section class=\"kt\">\r\n    <h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Every MAO matter starts with the Complaints Committee&rsquo;s preliminary investigation into professional misconduct or unskilled practice.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Provide records in full and on time; never edit or back-date them, as their integrity will be examined.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Your certificate of registration can be suspended during the investigation, but the suspension is appealable to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Serious matters go to the Discipline Committee, which has Manitoba Evidence Act commissioner powers and reports to council.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Discipline hearings are generally open to the public, with the identities of both parties protected.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Penalties range up to revocation and costs; a Discipline Committee decision may be appealed to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n  <section class=\"courses\">\r\n    <h2>Related courses<\/h2>\r\n    <div class=\"cgrid\">\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/dealing-with-a-complaint-or-investigation-professionally\/\"><span class=\"ct\">Dealing With a Complaint or Investigation Professionally<\/span><span class=\"cd\">Engaging with a formal investigation without making it worse.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/fitness-to-practise-for-healthcare-professionals\/\"><span class=\"ct\">Fitness to Practise for Healthcare Professionals<\/span><span class=\"cd\">What fitness to practise means and how concerns are assessed.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/probity-and-honesty-for-healthcare-professionals\/\"><span class=\"ct\">Probity &amp; Honesty for Healthcare Professionals<\/span><span class=\"cd\">Why candour and cooperation with an investigation carry weight.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/ethics-and-ethical-standards-for-optometrists-and-opticians\/\"><span class=\"ct\">Ethics &amp; Ethical Standards for Optometrists &amp; Opticians<\/span><span class=\"cd\">The ethical framework behind a professional-misconduct allegation.<\/span><\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n  <section class=\"nextset\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/how-to-respond-to-a-manitoba-association-of-optometrists-mao-complaint\">How to respond to an MAO complaint<\/a>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/remediation-and-reflection-for-manitoba-optometrists-and-opticians\">Remediation and reflection for Manitoba optometrists and opticians<\/a>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n  <section class=\"faq\">\r\n    <details><summary>Who investigates the complaint?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The MAO Complaints Committee conducts the preliminary investigation after a written complaint is forwarded to it, to the member for a response, and to the Registrar. Serious matters are then referred to the Discipline Committee for a formal hearing.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>What does the investigation look at?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The two grounds the Act is concerned with: professional misconduct and unskilled practice. Conduct concerns and competence concerns are assessed differently, so it helps to know which is in play when you respond.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Can my registration be suspended during the investigation?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes, where the Complaints Committee believes there is a serious risk to the public it may suspend your certificate of registration pending the outcome. You can appeal that suspension to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Are optometry discipline hearings public?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Generally yes. Discipline Committee hearings are usually open to the public, though the identities of the practitioner and the complainant must be kept confidential. The Committee has commissioner powers under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>What penalties can the Discipline Committee impose?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">It may order a reprimand, suspension with or without conditions, restrictions or conditions on practice, repayment of fees, revocation of registration, and\/or fines and the costs of the hearing.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Can I appeal the Discipline Committee&rsquo;s decision?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. An investigated optometrist may appeal a Discipline Committee decision to the Court of King&rsquo;s Bench &mdash; a genuine statutory right of appeal. It is still better to get the hearing right than to rely on the appeal.<\/div><\/details>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n  <p class=\"disc\">This guide explains how the Manitoba Association of Optometrists regulates optometrists under The Optometry Act, and how the Opticians of Manitoba regulates opticians under The Opticians Act. It is provided for general information only, is not legal advice, and does not create a professional relationship. For advice on your own situation, contact your professional liability insurer and a regulatory lawyer before you respond. Last updated July 15, 2026.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@graph\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\r\n      \"headline\": \"What happens during a Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) investigation?\",\r\n      \"description\": \"What to expect in a Manitoba Association of Optometrists investigation: the Complaints Committee, the Discipline Committee hearing, penalties and appeals.\",\r\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-CA\",\r\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-15\",\r\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-15\",\r\n      \"author\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Dr Shehzad Iqbal\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"publisher\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Healthcare Ethics Courses\",\r\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/optometrists-opticians\/manitoba\/investigation\/\",\r\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/optometrists-opticians\/manitoba\/investigation\/\",\r\n      \"about\": \"The Manitoba Association of Optometrists investigation and discipline process under The Optometry Act.\"\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\r\n      \"itemListElement\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 1,\r\n          \"name\": \"Knowledge & Support\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 2,\r\n          \"name\": \"Optometrists & Opticians \u2014 Manitoba\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/optometrists-opticians\/manitoba\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 3,\r\n          \"name\": \"What happens during a Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO) investigation?\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/optometrists-opticians\/manitoba\/investigation\/\"\r\n        }\r\n      ]\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n      \"mainEntity\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Who investigates the complaint?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"The MAO Complaints Committee conducts the preliminary investigation after a written complaint is forwarded to it, to the member for a response, and to the Registrar. 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The Committee has commissioner powers under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"What penalties can the Discipline Committee impose?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"It may order a reprimand, suspension with or without conditions, restrictions or conditions on practice, repayment of fees, revocation of registration, and\/or fines and the costs of the hearing.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Can I appeal the Discipline Committee\u2019s decision?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Yes. An investigated optometrist may appeal a Discipline Committee decision to the Court of King\u2019s Bench \u2014 a genuine statutory right of appeal. 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