Data request

About CMPA data

With over 100 years of experience protecting and assisting physicians, the CMPA has the largest collection of physician medical-legal data in Canada.

The CMPA collects data on legal actions, regulatory authority (College) complaints, and hospital matters in which we have assisted. Data sources include health records, legal documents, peer expert opinions, and College decisions. 

How to request data and information

1. Complete the Data request form and submit it to the CMPA.
2. We will review the request and reply to you within 2 weeks.
3. If we are able to fulfill the request with data that is most relevant to you, you will receive a data report within 8 weeks of receipt of the request.

Limitations to CMPA data

While the CMPA database contains information on over 500,000 cases across Canada and representing different types of physician work since 1953, the sample size for certain research questions may not be large enough to draw specific conclusions. In such instances, the data analysis may be restricted to descriptive themes only.

Not all patient safety incidents that occur in Canada are reported to the CMPA, and therefore CMPA data should be considered a skewed sample. Also, not all information about specific cases may be captured in our database.

Our analyses focus only on closed medical-legal cases, which may not include the most recent cases.

About information privacy

The privacy and security of information is paramount to the CMPA. See our privacy policy to learn how we collect, use, and share information.

The CMPA makes de-identified, aggregated data analysis reports available for education and research purposes. This information is intended to help physicians recognize and reduce medical-legal risk and foster safe medical care.

For more information, please contact datarequests@cmpa.org.