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Disclaimer:

This website was transferred to the Archives of Ontario in January 2020. It is no longer being updated so forms, search boxes and external links may not function. As an archival record, this website is not subject to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Services Overview

The primary function of the Motherisk Commission is to establish and lead a Review and Resource Centre.

Legal Review

The Review and Resource Centre conducts legal reviews of individual cases where test results from the Motherisk Drug Testing Laboratory (“MDTL”) have been used, including in “high priority” cases.
More about the Legal Review process.

Counselling

In addition, the Review and Resource Centre provides support and assistance to affected persons through the provision of information and counselling.
More about the Counselling services.

Who is an “Affected Person”?

Services from the Review and Resource Centre are available to any person “affected” by a test performed by the Motherisk Drug Testing Laboratory (“MDTL”).

The Commission has defined “affected persons” as anyone involved in a child protection case in Ontario where a Motherisk test was requested. This may include the following individuals:

  • The person whose hair was tested
  • Any other family member of the person whose hair was tested
  • The child or children of the person whose hair was tested
  • The sibling of any child or children of the person whose hair was tested
  • Any person who, through adoption or other care arrangements (customary care agreement, kinship placement, or a custody order) has a relationship with the child or children who was the subject of a case where a person’s hair was tested.
  • Any other person who offered a plan for a child or children who was the subject of a case where a person’s hair was tested.
  • The band or native community of a child or children who was the subject of a case where a person’s hair was tested, where that child or children is an Indian or native person as defined in the Child and Family Services Act.