The Dutch disciplinary system for physiotherapists: Practice and views

The statutory disciplinary system for physiotherapists in the Netherlands was introduced at the end of 1997. The aim of this system is to monitor the quality of physiotherapy. All the complaints that were dealt with by the five regional disciplinary boards in the period 1998-2002 were studied with regard to the number and nature of the complaints, the complainants, the accused and the verdicts. Furthermore, questionnaires were sent to 300 physiotherapists working in primary health care were asked about their views on the statutory disciplinary system (response 76%). During the study period 33 complaints were made about physiotherapists. The annual number of accused physiotherapists increased from zero in 1998 to 11 in 2002. Male physiotherapists were accused relatively more often than their female colleagues. A sanction was imposed 11 times (33% of the verdicts), mostly a reprimand or suspension. Most complaints concerned sexual intimacies or abuse. The statutory disciplinary system appears to be an important corrective instrument by imposing sanctions for serious forms of professional misconduct in physiotherapy. However, with regard to the development of standards for other aspects of the profession, i.e. treatment and advice, the system (still) plays a limited role. (copyright) 2006 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserve