Every person in Ontario is obligated to report child abuse and neglect. But health-care providers who work with children have a special awareness and a particular responsibility under the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA). If you have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child you are treating is in need of protection, it is your legal duty to promptly report your suspicions to a children's aid society.
If you fail to report your suspicion of child abuse or neglect, you are liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $1,000 if this information is obtained in the course of your professional duties. The CFSA specifies that a person who acts in accordance with the duty to report is protected from civil actions, unless the person acts maliciously or without reasonable grounds for the suspicion.