Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 30 Jan 2012
Summary:
On January 30, 2012, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Noémie Adeline Everette Bertha Guindon committed an act of professional misconduct, in that: she contravened a term, condition or limitation on her certificate of registration; she has failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession; and she has engaged in conduct or an act or omission relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members
as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
During an investigation under section 75(b) of the Code, the College expert reviewed 25 office charts from Dr. Guindon's practice and opined that Dr. Guindon's care failed to meet the standard of practice in 23 of the 25 patient charts, including, with respect to: her use of UV light as treatment for post operative infections, fungal infections, seborrheic dermatitis, chelitis, and epidermal cysts; her use of cryotherapy as a treatment for fungal infections, psoriasis, facial elastosis, lichen planus pruritus, rosacea, striae distensae, melasma and chelitis; her use of
intralesional steroid injections as a treatment for xerosis and seborrheic dermatitis; and, her use of Accutane as a treatment for an epidermal cyst.
The College expert also observed Dr. Guindon's with 27 patients. The expert opined that Dr. Guindon failed to maintain the standard of practice in all 27 patients seen with regard to hand hygiene, personal protection and instrument sterilization/reuse, as well as with regard to charting, in that she continued to omit the concentration and amount of drug injected. Further, she opined that Dr. Guindon's practices had the potential to cause transmission of infection to Dr. Guindon's patients or herself.
On November 17, 2010, Dr. Guindon entered into an Undertaking with the College in lieu of an order under section 37 of the Code. Dr. Guindon breached her Undertaking and contravened the
terms, conditions and limitations on her certificate of registration by: using cryotherapy on a number of occasions for conditions not permitted under the terms of her Undertaking; failing to
record the strength and dose for each intralesional injection; and, using intralesional injections for treatments not permitted under the terms of her Undertaking.
The Undertaking also required that Dr. Guindon practice under the guidance of a clinical supervisor acceptable to the College. Dr. Guindon's clinical supervisor resigned his role as supervisor and the supervisory arrangement was terminated on February 23, 2011. Despite not having a clinical supervisor, Dr. Guindon saw patients on March 21, 22, 24, 25 and 28, 2011 and April 5, 7 and 8, 2011, in breach of her Undertaking and in contravention of the terms, conditions
and limitations on her certificate.
On January 24, 2012, Dr. Guindon resigned her membership with the College. She entered into an undertaking agreeing not to reapply for membership with the College.
The Discipline Committee ordered and directed that:
1. Dr. Guindon appear before the panel to be reprimanded.
2. Dr. Guindon pay to the College costs in the amount of $3,650 within 60 days of the date of this Order.