Mandatory Reporting Obligations

A mandatory report begins with a concern, not a completed investigation. When an RPN sees an injury pattern, hears a disclosure, or recognizes a clinical picture that creates reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or a reportable infection, the nurse must connect that concern to the correct legal reporting pathway. The safe sequence is straightforward: identify the concern, address immediate danger, report to the appropriate authority, and document what was seen or said. The nurse does not need to prove abuse, obtain the alleged perpetrator's explanation, or wait for a test result when the law requires reporting based on suspicion. Ontario duties differ according to what is suspected: child protection, adult protection, or public-health reporting may each involve a different authority and timeframe.