Defamation or Mere Diatribe? The Ontario Medical Association Bullying Scandal and When It’s Actually Libel

Recent allegations in the Toronto Star of cyberbullying and intimidation amongst doctors at the Ontario Medical Association have led some of my medically-inclined friends and colleagues to enquire: is any of this conduct that can be subject to a defamation lawsuit? As with any defamation claim, the context of the allegedly defamatory statement is king.…