On January 14, 2015, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Roger Cyril Wales committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession. The Committee also found that Dr. Wales is incompetent.
Dr. Wales is a General Practitioner (GP) refractionist in solo practice in the Kingston area.
The findings of professional misconduct and incompetence pertain to the following areas of Dr. Wales’ practice:
- his measuring intraocular pressure by touching the eye with his finger (finger tonometry) instead of using an applanation tonometer to measure numerically;
- his failure to measure intraocular pressure in certain age groups (under 40);
- his failure to dilate pupils to look at the fundus/posterior eye; and
- his failure to use cycloplegia in children to obtain proper refraction.
Dr. Wales’ deficiencies in his care and treatment of patients demonstrated a lack of knowledge, skill, and judgment of such a nature and to an extent that he is unfit to continue to practise or that his practice should be restricted. The Committee found that the deficiencies Dr. Wales displays are current.
Disposition
The Discipline Committee ordered and directed that:
- the Registrar revoke Dr. Wales’ certificate of registration effective immediately;
- Dr. Wales appear before the Committee to be reprimanded within thirty (30) days of the date this Order becomes final; and
- Dr. Wales pay costs to the College in the amount of $23,340.00 within thirty (30) days of the date this Order becomes final.
Appeal
On February 11, 2015 and September 1, 2017, Dr. Wales appealed the decision on finding and the decision on penalty of the Discipline Committee to the Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court). Pursuant to s.71 of the Health Professions Procedural Code, the Discipline Committee’s decision remained in effect despite the appeal. On September 6, 2018, the Divisional Court dismissed for delay the appeal, with costs fixed at $750.00.