Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 03 Dec 1991
Summary:
In December 1991, Dr. Richards pleaded guilty to a charge of professional misconduct, as defined in Ontario Regulation 448/80, as amended, in that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession, contrary to s. 27(21); and in that he engaged in conduct or an act relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, contrary to s. 27(32). The Discipline Committee accepted this plea and found Dr. Richards guilty of professional misconduct. Consequently, the Committee ordered that Dr. Richards be reprimanded, with the fact of the reprimand to be recorded on the Register. The Committee further ordered that Dr. Richards licence to practice be suspended for a period of three months, but that this suspension would itself be suspended on the following terms and conditions:
1. At the first available date, Dr. Richards was to complete, at his own expense, the PREP and, if necessary, the Physician Enhancement Program, all to the satisfaction of the Registrar.
2. Dr. Richards was to consult with the Deputy Registrar of the College regarding an appropriate assessment of his knowledge, skill and judgment in respect of the diagnosis and treatment of chest disease.
3. Dr. Richards was to be referred by the Deputy Registrar of the College to a Chest and Allergy Unit at a teaching hospital for retraining in chest disease.
4. Dr. Richards was to consent to the release by the College to the Chest and Allergy Unit clinic of any information considered appropriate by the Deputy Registrar prior to Dr. Richards retraining program.
5. Dr. Richards was to attend at the clinic and was to cooperate in every respect with the assessment provided by that clinic. Dr. Richards was to consent to the release by the clinic to the College of any information with respect to the retraining and the result of the retraining as might be considered necessary by the Deputy Registrar.
6. If, in the judgment of the Registrar of the College, Dr. Richards failed to comply with these terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the Registrar, the full penalty of suspension, as cited above, was to commence on a date to be fixed by the Registrar, not to exceed sixty days from the date on which the default in the opinion of the Registrar had occurred.
Appeal: No Appeal
Hearing Date(s): 03 Dec 1991