DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
ous investigation of him , he warned Patient A in an email chat not to tell the College about any activities in the “ back room .” Dr . Muirhead instructed Patient A to explain his statement in emails to her of “ I love you ,” as “ I love you like he loved his dogs .” Patient A did as Dr . Muirhead requested , and did not initially admit to a sexual relationship with him despite being asked by the College investigator . Dr . Muirhead told Patient A that so many people , including her , were dependent on him . He convinced her that action by the College against him would ruin her life and her marriage . Patient A was also concerned about Dr . Muirhead ’ s “ explosive ” reaction if she were to tell the College the truth . Patient A estimated that Dr . Muirhead gave her a total of $ 23,000 over time .
REASONS FOR PENALTY The penalties of revocation and reprimand are mandatory penalties under the Code for Dr . Muirhead ’ s sexual abuse of his patient . The guiding principles in determining an appropriate penalty are that the penalty should protect the public ; express the disapproval of the profession toward the member ’ s conduct ; maintain public confidence in the profession and its ability to regulate itself in the public interest ; act as a general and specific deterrent and , in an appropriate case , serve a rehabilitative function . An aggravating factor was a previous College discipline decision in March 2014 suspending Dr . Muirhead for disgraceful , dishonorable or unprofessional conduct and failure to maintain the standard of practice of the profession for numerous boundary violations with female patients . The Committee considered the conduct of Dr . Muirhead to be abhorrent and an extreme example of the abuse of the position of trust by a physician in a physician-patient relationship .
ORDER In summary , the Committee directed that the Registrar revoke Dr . Muirhead ' s certificate of registration effective immediately ; a public reprimand ; reimbursement to the College for funding provided to patients under the program required under section 85.7 of the Code , by posting an irrevocable letter of credit or other security acceptable to the College , in the amount of $ 16,060 ; and that he pay costs to the College in the amount of $ 10,000 . For complete details of the Order , please see the full decision at www . cpso . on . ca . Select Find a Doctor and enter the doctor ’ s name .
DR . IRA MICHAEL PRICE
PRACTICE LOCATION : Hamilton AREA OF PRACTICE : Emergency Medicine
HEARING INFORMATION : Statement of Facts , Plea of No Contest
On August 22 , 2016 , the Discipline Committee found that Dr . Price committed an act of professional misconduct , in that he 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 . The Committee found that Dr . Price altered a medical record in a misleading fashion , failing to date and initial the changes , and mislead a College investigator regarding his patient chart and charting practices during a College investigation . Dr . Price did not contest the allegations . Dr . Price is the medical director of Synergy Health Services Inc . in Hamilton , Ontario , where he provides care to patients being treated with medical cannabis . Patient A sought treatment from Dr . Price for chronic pain with medical cannabis between December 2012 and April 2014 . Following an email exchange with Dr . Price in April 2014 , in which Patient A requested that his next appointment be rescheduled , Patient A was terminated from Dr . Price ’ s practice . On April 24 , 2014 , the College received a complaint from Patient A that Dr . Price acted unprofessionally while Patient A was his patient , including by being unwilling to accommodate his request to reschedule his appointment and by terminating Patient A from his practice .
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 4 , 2017