Joseph Trambulo

1/29/2024

View Notice of Hearing

Joseph Trambulo
Registration Number: 11391
Case Number: 2023-0205 


On January 22, 2024 the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) referred a matter involving Joseph Trambulo to the Discipline Committee for a hearing.  

 
The dates for the hearing will be posted when they have been confirmed. When the hearing is completed, a summary of the Discipline Committee’s decision will be posted on the Public Register and the decision will be made available on CanLII (www.canlii.org).   

Overview of the Allegations 

1. At all material times Joseph Trambulo (the “Registrant”) was a physiotherapist, registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and the principal and owner of PRHealth, Health and Therapy Solutions, through which he provided physiotherapy services.  

2. In the period October 24, 2016 to October 30, 2023, the Registrant engaged in professional misconduct within the meaning of the following paragraphs of section 1 of the Professional Misconduct Regulation, O. Reg. 388/08:  

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);  
• paragraph 10 (sexual abuse of a patient);  
• 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 26 (failing to maintain records in accordance with the standards of practice of the profession); and  
•  paragraph 27 (falsifying a record).  

3. In or about February 13, 2017, the Registrant committed an act or acts of professional misconduct under ss. 1(3), 1(4) and s.51(1)(b.1) of the Health Professions Procedural Code, which is Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c.18 (the “Code”), in that he engaged in sexual abuse of a patient.

11/21/2022

Joseph Trambulo
Registration Number #11391
Case: 2021-0078

On November 18, 2021, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) referred a matter involving Joseph Trambulo to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. 

The hearing took place on November 21, 2022. This matter was resolved by way of an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty. 


Finding 

The panel of the Discipline Committee issued a decision on the finding on November 21, 2022, on the penalty on November 21, 2022 and on costs on November 21, 2022. 

After having considered all of the evidence, the panel found Joseph Trambulo 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) and;

• paragraph 26 (failing to keep records in accordance with the standards of practice of the profession)

Penalty

The panel ordered the following penalty, Joseph Trambulo will:

• Receive a reprimand at the conclusion of the hearing (delivered on November 21, 2022)

• Successfully complete counselling with Dr. Lori Haskell, or another counsellor selected by the Registrar

• Serve a suspension, beginning December 2, 2022, which will continue until the counselling has successfully been completed 

• Participate in practice enhancement coaching after returning to practice

While Joseph Trambulo is serving the suspension, he cannot use the title Physiotherapist, PT or any abbreviation there of. Joseph Trambulo’s name, PT title and/or registration number cannot be use for billing purposes while the suspension is being served.

The panel also ordered Joseph Trambulo to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5,000 to offset some of the costs associated with investigating and prosecuting this case.
 

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

Mr. Trambulo, the panel has found that your behaviour failed to maintain the standards of practice of the profession. For a second time, you have engaged in conduct that would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional. 
 
Having regard to your previous attendance before the Discipline Committee at this College, we would not have expected to see you again. Had it not been for the submission of an Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Penalty and Costs, we would have likely imposed a more stringent penalty. 
 
It’s important to the panel that your suspension is indefinite, and its reinstatement rests upon successful rehabilitation guided by a professional counsellor. 

Should you appear before a disciplinary committee for similar behaviour in the future, your previous proceedings will weigh heavily on the penalty consideration at that time.

You can read the full decision of the Discipline Committee of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario at: www.canlii.ca

Status: In Progress


 

8/9/2018

Joseph Trambulo

Registration Number 11391

Case Number: 2017 0306

On August 9, 2018, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee referred a matter involving Joseph Trambulo to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. The hearing was held on April 29, 2019.


Overview of the Allegations

The allegations refer to the following headings of professional misconduct:

1. At all material times Joseph Trambulo was a registered member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

2. On or about December 5, 2016, Mr. Trambulo engaged in professional misconduct within the meaning of the following paragraphs of section 1 of the Professional Misconduct Regulation, 0. Reg. 388/08:

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);
• paragraph 10 (sexual abuse of a patient);
• 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); and
• paragraph 19 (conduct unbecoming a physiotherapist).

3. On or about December 5, 2016, Mr. Trambulo committed an act of professional misconduct under ss. 1(3), 1(4) and s.51(1)(b.1) of the Health Professions Procedural Code, which is Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c.18 (the "Code") in that he engaged in sexual abuse of a patient.
 

Finding:

At the conclusion of the hearing the panel found that Mr. Trambulo had committed several act(s) of professional misconduct and they ordered the following penalty. The College withdrew allegations related to paragraph 10 – sexual abuse of a patient.
 

Outcome:
 

• The registrant received a reprimand at the conclusion of the hearing on April 29, 2019
• The registrant’s certificate of registration will be suspended for a period of twelve months, commencing July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2020
• The registrant must successfully complete the ProBe ethics program
• The registrant must successfully complete the Understanding Boundaries and Managing Risks Inherent in the Doctor-Patient Relationship
• The registrant must attend for therapy and counseling sessions which will focus on the issue of boundaries and the inherent power imbalance in the relationship between a health care provider and a patient
• The registrant must complete a review of the following College standards, tools, and resources
• The registrant is required to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5500

In addition, the registrant signed an undertaking with the College in which he agreed not to work as a Physiotherapist Assistant during the period of time that he is serving his suspension

The panel’s full decision and reasons is available on Canlii.

Status: Complete