Joseph Steven Clement

Joseph Clement
Registration Number 13216
Case Number: 2022-0153

On September 13, 2024, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) referred a matter involving Joseph Clement to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. 

The hearing took place on August 11, 2025. This matter was resolved by way of an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty.

The panel of the Discipline Committee issued a decision on the finding on August 11, 2025, on the penalty on August 11, 2025 and on costs on August 11, 2025.

Finding 
After having considered all of the evidence, the panel found Joseph Clement to have committed the following acts of professional misconduct:

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);
• paragraph 15 (contravening a federal, provincial or territorial law relevant to the member’s suitability to practice); and
• 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).

Penalty
The panel ordered the following penalty, Joseph Clement will:

• receive a reprimand (delivered August 11, 2025)
• serve a three month suspension (completed)
  • This suspension could be extended if certain requirements are not met
• review Standards of practice for the profession and supportive resources (completed)
• successfully complete the extended version of the Professional Boundaries course provided by PBI - PBI24-Extended Course (completed)
• participate in 1:1 counselling

While serving the suspension, Joseph Clement cannot:

• use the title Physiotherapist, PT or any abbreviation there of 
• use their name, PT title and/or registration number cannot be use for billing purposes 
• practice as a physiotherapist assistant (“PTA”) 

The panel also ordered Joseph Clement 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:

Mr. Clement, being a physiotherapist is not a right, but a privilege that comes with a large degree of responsibility. This includes adhering to all standards of practice established by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and otherwise demonstrating sound judgment within and outside of professional pursuits.  

Your actions constitute serious and objectionable misconduct that would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional. This panel wishes to advise you that this profession will not tolerate such behaviour. Protecting the profession’s integrity demands zero tolerance for crossing professional boundaries, particularly with a minor.

We acknowledge that this is your first time before the disciplinary committee, and we also acknowledge cooperation through the disciplinary investigation and process. However, as a profession, we must maintain the confidence of the public and all involved stakeholders. Your conduct demonstrated disregard for the College standards, and a contravention of federal, provincial or territorial law.  

As a physiotherapist and independent practitioner, you are trusted to provide care in a context that puts you in a position of power. 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.


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

This is a summary of any charge or finding made against this physiotherapist under the Criminal Code of Canada or the Health Insurance Act since July 1, 2015 or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act since May 2018. 

On August 2, 2022, Joseph Steven Clement was charged with:

• Criminal Harrassment - repeatedly follow, repeatedly communicate with, watch and beset threatening conduct - Criminal Code 264(1)

On December 28, 2022, Joseph Steven Clement was charged with:

• Failure to comply with an undertaking - Criminal Code145(4)(a)

Joseph Steven Clement plead guilty to this charge on April 6, 2023.

Joseph Steven Clement must:

• Keep the peace and be of good behaviour
• Appear before the court when requested
• Notify the cour or probation officer in advance of any name, address, occupation or employment change
• Report to the probation officer when directed
• Not communication directly or indirectly, by any physical, electronice or other means with the witness or their family
• Not be within 100 m of any place the witness is known to work, live, go to school, frequent or is otherwise known to be except for required court appearances
• Not possess any weapons as defined by the Criminal Code
• Attend and actively participate in all assessment, counselling or rehabilitative programs as directed by the probation officer and complete them to the satisfation of the probation officer

STATUS: This matter has been resolved in the courts on April 6, 2023
 

As a result of a discipline hearing that took place on August 11, 2025, the following Terms, Conditions and Limitations are on Joseph Clement's certificate of registration. Joseph Clement must: 

• participate in 1:1 counselling