Previous Hearings
Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 19 Jul 2006
Summary:
On July 19, 2006, the Discipline Committee found Dr. George Terence Riley to have committed an act of professional misconduct in that he has engaged in 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.
The Discipline Committee ordered the following:
1. Dr. Riley to appear before it to be reprimanded, with the fact of the reprimand recorded on the register.
2. The Discipline Committee directs the Registrar to impose the following terms, conditions and limitation on Dr. Riley s certificate of registration:
(a) Effective September 22, 2006, Dr. Riley shall restrict his practice to surgical assisting, in accordance with an undertaking executed by him dated July 19, 2006,
(b) By September 30, 2006, Dr. Riley will provide confirmation to the College, through his practice monitor, that as of that date, Dr. Riley is in compliance with the Order of the Discipline Committee dated September 29, 2003, and is current and up-to-date on all of his records, referrals, laboratory results and other correspondence in his office and hospital practice.
3. The Discipline Committee orders Dr. Riley to pay costs to the College in the amount of $1,500.00 by August 30, 2006.
4. The Discipline Committee orders the results of this proceeding to be included in the register.
On July 19, 2006, Dr. George Terence Riley entered into the following undertaking with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and agreed that it will be posted on the public register:
1. I agree that commencing September 22, 2006, I am restricted from performing all medical practice except as a surgical assistant with a physician who is a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario who is present at all times at a hospital where that physician has privileges.
2. I agree that at no time will I conduct any independent patient care.
3. I agree that as a condition of my certificate of registration, and in order that compliance with conditions 1 and 2 can be monitored, I am required to obtain a letter signed by the Chief of Surgery at every hospital at which I have worked in the previous six months confirming that I have been working only as a surgical assistant. This letter must be provided to the College on January 1 and June 30 of every year until I cease to practice.
4. I agree that as a further means of ensuring compliance with conditions 1 and 2, I will execute and provide the College with a consent to OHIP attached as Schedule A .
5. I acknowledge that this undertaking is irrevocable, and undertake that I will not apply either in Ontario or any other jurisdiction to perform any medical practice other than surgical assisting.
6. I acknowledge that I have received independent legal advice prior to signing to the undertaking.
7. I agree that this undertaking will be posted on the public register.
8. I acknowledge that if I fail to comply with the terms of this Undertaking, the College may seek a referral to the Discipline Committee or a referral to the Fitness to Practice Committee and may introduce this Undertaking into evidence at the hearing as proof of its contents.
Decision: Download Full Decision (PDF)
Appeal: No Appeal
Hearing Date(s): Jul 19, 2006
Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 29 Sep 2003
Summary:
On September 29, 2003, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Riley committed acts of professional misconduct in that he failed without reasonable cause to provide a report or certificate relating to an examination or treatment performed by the member to the patient or his or her authorized representative within a reasonable time after the a patient or his or her authorized representative has requested such a report or certificate; that he failed to respond appropriately or within a reasonable time to a written inquiry from the College. These acts would be considered that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
The Discipline Committee ordered the following:
1) That Dr. Riley attend before the panel to be reprimanded, with the fact of the reprimand to be recorded on the register;
2) The Discipline Committee Orders the following terms, conditions and limitations on Dr. Riley’s certificate of registration for an indefinite period of time:
i Dr. Riley will have a practice monitor for as long as he holds a license to practice medicine. The practice monitor must be another member of the College, approved of by the Registrar of the College or his designate, and must meet with Dr. Riley a minimum of bi-weekly to review all incoming relevant medical correspondence with Dr. Riley and ensure timely follow-up on all such correspondence including request for records, laboratory results, and correspondence from the College. The monitor must also review Dr. Riley’s workload and give his consent in writing, a copy of which is to be immediately forwarded to the College, prior to Dr. Riley taking on any new patients. The practice monitor and Dr. Riley must together provide a quarterly report to the Registrar of the College or his designate as to the currency of Dr. Riley’s records, the timeliness of his referrals and his follow-up on laboratory results and other correspondence.
ii Dr. Riley will complete the College’s records keeping course at his own expense, by the end of 2003, including all optional components of the course such as the follow-up review of his records and shall provide proof of having done so to the Registrar of the College or his designate on or before December 31, 2003.
iii Dr. Riley will have his patient’s file with him for each patient evaluation or examination the he conducts and he will take contemporary notes of each such evaluation or examination. Dr. Riley will make specific note of any patient request for referral in his records and will note any discussions regarding medical test results discussed.
iv Dr. Riley will initial and date all laboratory, ultra-sound and other reports upon reviewing them.
v Dr. Riley will continue psychotherapy with Dr. O’Sullivan or, in the event Dr. O’Sullivan ceases to practice, with another psychiatrist acceptable to the Registrar of the College or his designate. Dr. O’Sullivan, or the approved psychiatrist treating Dr. Riley, will provide written confirmation of regular, bi-weekly, attendance to the Registrar of the College or his designate every six months. In the event that Dr. O’Sullivan or the approved psychiatrist treating Dr. Riley determines that bi-weekly attendance is unnecessary, the attendance schedule can be altered on notice and with the approval of the Registrar of the College or his designate.
- vi Dr. Riley will undergo an age related peer assessment within six (6) months of the date of this order and again twelve (12) months thereafter at the expense of the College.
vii Dr. Riley will keep a sign posted at all times, in the form attached hereto as Schedule 1, in all examination rooms used by him for the purpose of seeing patients.
viii Dr. Riley will complete a perinatal bereavement course offered by Perinatal Bereavement Services of Ontario (“PBSO”) either on November 12 and 13, 2003 or at the next offering of the course thereafter. If he is unable to attend the November, 2003 session, Dr. Riley will contact the PBSO prior to November 12, 2003 and inquire when the next course will be held and confirm that he is registered. If the next course has not yet been scheduled at the time of Dr. Riley’s inquiry, Dr. Riley will continue with monthly follow-ups with the PBSO and provide written notice of such follow-ups to the Registrar of the College or his designate until such time as he has registered for the perinatal bereavement course and will provide evidence of having completed the course to the Registrar of the College or his designate within two weeks of having completed the course.
ix Dr. Riley will forthwith execute an irrevocable consent to be filed with the Registrar of the College that if allegations of a breach of any of these terms, conditions or limitations is brought to the attention of the Registrar, then the Registrar shall suspend Dr. Riley’s Certificate of Registration on seven (7) days notice to him, with such suspension to remain in effect until such allegations have been finally determined or disposed of by the College through the complaints process and or discipline process x Dr. Riley shall pay three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars ($3,750.00) for these proceedings within twelve (12) months time.
Decision: Download Full Decision (PDF)
Appeal: No Appeal
Hearing Date(s): Sep 29, 2003
Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 08 Feb 1990
Summary:
In February 1990, the Discipline Committee found Dr. Riley guilty of professional misconduct, as defined in s. 27(27) of Ontario Regulation 448/80, as amended, in that he failed to provide within a reasonable time and without cause a report or certificate requested by a patient or his authorized agent in respect of an examination or treatment performed by him. Consequently, the Committee imposed the following penalty:
1. Dr. Riley(s licence to practice was to be suspended when this Order became final.
2. Dr. Riley was to be fined the sum of $5000.00.
3. Dr. Riley was to complete the outstanding reports noted in this Hearing to the satisfaction of the Registrar.
4. The suspension of Dr. Riley(s licence to practice was to be terminated three months following his compliance with items 2 and 3 above.
5. A continuing condition was to be placed on Dr. Riley(s licence to practice, such that he be obliged to provide the College on a quarterly basis for two years with a notarized copy of a log showing date of receipt of all requests for medical reports, their disposition and an explanation on action being taken on outstanding reports.
Appeal: No Appeal
Hearing Date(s): 08 Feb 1990
Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 22 Mar 1989
Summary:
In March 1989, Dr. Riley pleaded guilty to a charge of professional misconduct, as defined in s. 27(27) of Ontario Regulation 448/80, as amended, in that he failed to provide within a reasonable time and without cause a report or certificate requested by a patient or his authorized agent in respect of an examination or treatment performed by him. The Discipline Committee accepted this plea and found Dr. Riley guilty of professional misconduct. Consequently, the Committee ordered that Dr. Riley be reprimanded, with the fact of the reprimand to be recorded on the Register; that he be fined $5000.00; and that if he failed to present himself for the reprimand and pay the fine within thirty days of the Order becoming final, his licence to practice would be suspended until those conditions were met. The Committee also ruled that the Doctor's licence to practice be suspended for a period of ninety days, but that the suspension would itself be suspended if he delivered the patient's medical report to his solicitor with a copy to the Registrar of the College within thirty days of this Order becoming final. All of these penalties were to be recorded on the Register.
Appeal: No Appeal
Hearing Date(s): 22 Mar 1989