Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of complaints does the RCB have jurisdiction over?

  The RCB has jurisdiction over individual RCPs only. The types of complaints may include drug/alcohol use, gross negligence/incompetence resulting in patient endangerment, patient abuse or neglect, sexual/violent/abusive offenses, fraud or theft offenses, mentally impaired RCPs who are unsafe to practice, practicing without a license, RCPs on probation who have violated their probation conditions, or any other acts or convictions substantially related to the practice of respiratory care.

• What types of complaints are outside of the RCB's jurisdiction?

  The RCB does not have jurisdiction over complaints related to interpersonal conflicts, labor issues, employee-employer relations, billing disputes, complaints against healthcare professionals that are not RCPs, and complaints against health care facilities, clinics, or agency operations.

• How can I file a complaint?

  File a complaint as an employer.

  File a complaint as a consumer.

  File a complaint as a licensee.

  For more detailed information, please refer to the RCB's Complaint Review Process.

• Can I file a complaint anonymously?

  Everyone has the right to file a complaint without fear of negative repercussions. Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 2318 and Civil Code section 43.8, a complainant is immune to prosecution for registering a complaint.

  Further, each individual has the right to file a complaint anonymously. However, the RCB does prefer to have the name and a telephone number and/or an address of the complainant in order to contact him/her in the event additional information is needed during the investigation.

• How long does it take to resolve my complaint?

  This depends on the complexity of a complaint and the type of review necessary to address the allegation. It also depends on whether a complaint is substantiated. Therefore, the complaint can take anywhere from several months to a couple of years to resolve. During this process, your patience is appreciated. Please review the Enforcement Process Overview for more detailed information.

• I was arrested and/or convicted for a crime, how do I report this to the RCB? What will happen to my license?

  To report an arrest or conviction, you must File a Complaint.

  Once a report is filed, the RCB will open an investigation and you will be notified of the outcome once the investigation is complete. For more information, please review the RCB's In-House Review and Penalty Determination Guidelines as well as the Complaint Review Process.

• How can I see if a RCP has had any disciplinary action taken against their license or has any disciplinary action pending?

  To view documents relating to disciplinary actions taken by the RCB, you may search by the individual's name or license number through the RCB's License Search.

  For more information please visit the RCB's Disciplinary Actions page.