Professional Liability Insurance Coverage
Updated April 26, 2023
Sonography Canada’s PLI is designed specifically to respond to sonography professional practice risks in today’s healthcare environment. We partnered with BMS to provide sonographers with the most comprehensive coverage available on the market today, at the most competitive rate available.
PLI Annual Fees:
Our PLI is available to the following eligible Sonography Canada members, for the period of May 1st to April 30th:
- Active Members: $91 per year
- Practicing Non-credentialed Members: $147 per year
- Graduate Interim Insurance: $45.50 per year
This coverage is available for sonographers who also provide services as Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) provided that this has been disclosed to Sonography Canada when a policy is purchased.
Please note that the above-mentioned premiums are subject to applicable taxes.
Click here to learn more about eligibility requirements.
Does Your Employer Have Your Covered?
Our PLI provider, BMS Group provided us with an article (in English and French) that talks about what an employer’s policy typically covers you for, and how carrying your own policy (specifically, the one offered by BMS Group to Sonography Canada members) provides extra protection. We have versions in English and French for you to review.
A Sonography Canada PLI policy includes:
Professional Liability:
$5.0 million per claim / $5.0 million limit per policy year
Professional Liability coverage provides insurance protection for wrongful acts to a third party (actual or alleged negligent acts, errors or omissions) committed when acting within your scope of practice as a sonographer. Your coverage insures payment of both compensatory damages and legal costs associated with a claim.
Regulatory Legal Expense (Disciplinary):
$200,000 per claim / $200,000 limit per policy year
The regulatory legal expense endorsement provides coverage for legal costs associated with having to respond to a complaint, or appear at a disciplinary hearing with a provincial regulatory organization or agency. In the event of a complaint or investigation, members are provided with superior legal representation and defence protection. Examples include: complaints alleging professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity.
Criminal Defence Costs Reimbursement:
$150,000 per claim / $150,000 limit per policy year
Coverage will reimburse insured members for defence costs associated with a case filed under the Criminal Code if the professional service was rendered in Canada and the member is found ‘not guilty’ of the criminal charge.
Sexual Abuse Counselling Fund:
$25,000 limit per policy
Coverage allows for the rehabilitation and therapy of a person who, while a patient, suffered abuse in the course of an insured member’s practice as a sonographer.
Extended Reporting Period:
Complaints and claims can be made months or even years after the alleged incident took place.
- Maternity / parental leave extension for up to 1 policy term automatically included at no additional cost
- Automatic 10-year extension to protect you into retirement or if you discontinue practice
OPTIONAL Cyber Security & Privacy Liability Coverage:
From $50,000 to $1,000,000
This coverage allows you to better manage the risk of holding increasingly large quantities of personally identifiable data of clients, employees, and others, and to mitigate the reputational damage resulting from a data security breach.
OPTIONAL Commercial General Liability Coverage:
This coverage protects from financial loss should you be sued due to bodily injury or property damage caused by your services or business operations and not related to your delivery of professional services. This coverage is also known as “slip and fall” insurance because this is the policy that would respond in the event someone falls at your clinic and claims it was a result of your negligence (e.g. water on the floor).
Pro bono legal advice
To reduce stress associated with the professional liability aspects of your practice, Miller Thomson offers free legal support and telephone consultation for insured members with respect to professional malpractice claims or potential claims and/or investigations or disciplinary actions from your professional body. Contact Miller Thomson at: 1.800.387.4452
PLI coverage for out-of-scope practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Ontario Government has implemented emergency orders to relieve staffing and capacity pressures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic that authorize regulated health professionals to provide patient care services outside their regular scope of practice. The new order applies only to regulated health professionals working in Ontario hospitals. The order does not permit regulated health professionals to practice outside of scope while they are working outside a hospital.
Sonography Canada’s insurer has confirmed the following regarding PLI coverage in these unique circumstances:
As legislation is changing and some professions will be considered for supporting health care professionals, your Professional Liability Policy coverage still applies according to its terms, conditions and exclusions. As with professional practice generally, the insured is expected to work in accordance with the provincial/territorial government guidelines and regulations and the best practice guidelines and standards set by their regulatory body. Decisions about how coverage will respond will be made by the insurer based on the facts of each claim, the policy at issue, and applicable law.
If hospital-based Ontario members have any questions or concerns about professional liability associated with working under these new emergency orders, please contact Sonography Canada’s insurance program broker, BMS Canada at 1-844-583-7748 or by email sonography.insurance@bmsgroup.com. You are also encouraged to speak with your employer to further understand any implications to your practice.
To learn more about the Sonography Canada Professional Liability insurance policy consult the following resources:
- Program Brochure
- Sonography Canada PLI Program Member Site – Information and Resources
- Contact BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS Group) at sonography.insurance@bmsgroup.com or call 1.844.583.7748 for a copy of the full terms and conditions of the policy, including all exclusions and limitations.
