The College of Midwives of Ontario advises the public that the Ontario Superior Court of Ontario has issued an order to Nidhi Seth, requiring Nidhi Seth to comply with Sections 27 and 30 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). The order prohibits Nidhi Seth from:
- performing any controlled acts, including the act of communicating a diagnosis that identifies a disease or disorder as the cause of an individual’s symptoms in situations where it is reasonably likely that the individual will rely on that diagnosis, and
- from giving advice to persons with respect to their health in circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that serious bodily harm may result from the treatment or advice or from an omission from them,
unless Nidhi Seth becomes authorized to do so under the RHPA or a health profession Act named in Schedule 1 of the RHPA.
As part of the Order, Nidhi Seth was ordered to pay costs to the College in the amount of $3,000 within 90 days of the date of the order.
As Nidhi Seth is not registered with the College, she is not entitled to practise midwifery in Ontario or to hold herself out as a person who is qualified to practise as a midwife in Ontario.
How to identify and report unauthorized practice
The College is increasingly aware of individuals who are providing care they are not authorized by law to provide. Only midwives registered with the College and Indigenous midwives are able to practise midwifery in Ontario or to hold themselves out as a person who is qualified to practise as a midwife in Ontario.
Only regulated health professionals who are legally authorized can perform controlled acts, including managing labour or conducting the delivery of a baby or communicating a diagnosis where it is likely that the person will rely on it. Only regulated health professionals can treat or advise a person about their health that could seriously affect them.
The College encourages members of the public to use the College’s Midwife Directory to verify whether an individual is a registrant of the College.
If you want to speak to someone about an individual who you think may be engaging in unauthorized or illegal practice, please contact the College by email to conduct@cmo.on.ca or by phone at 416.640.2252.
The College relies on both members of the public and midwives to report concerns of unauthorized practice.