DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
80
he demonstrated lack of skill in advising tapering of
benzodiazepines without specific instructions.
The expert also opined that Dr. Syed demonstrated
lack of judgment by allowing himself to be manipu-
lated into repeat prescriptions of such a class of drugs
and his prescriptions of narcotics, including Nucyn-
ta, in this patient.
The pharmacist brought to light Dr. Syed’s lack of
knowledge of a potentially serious drug interaction be-
tween Nuycynta and Cymbalta. Dr. Syed demonstrated a
lack of judgment by stopping the antidepressant instead
of the narcotic in this instance. The clinical practice of
Dr. Syed with regard to Patient E had the potential in
several instances to expose his patient to harm. ORDER
The Discipline Committee ordered: a two-month
suspension of Dr. Syed’s certificate of registration;
and a reprimand.
The Discipline Committee also ordered terms and
conditions on Dr. Syed’s certificate of registration,
following Dr. Syed’s return to practice. These in-
clude monitoring of his prescribing practice as well
as clinical supervision of his general practice and
reassessments. The Committee also ordered costs of
$10,180.00.
For complete details, please see the full decision at
www.cpso.on.ca. Select Find a Doctor and enter the
doctor’s name.
COMPLAINT OF PATIENT F
In May 2016, the College received a complaint from
Patient F expressing concerns that Dr. Syed failed
to provide appropriate assessment, diagnosis and
treatment when she attended the walk-in clinic with
gynecological concerns about a growth. Dr. Syed did
not conduct a physical examination of the patient
and proceeded to prescribe her medication without
adequate explanation. The patient consulted a phar-
macist, who expressed some disagreement with the
prescription. As a result, the patient did not fill the
complete prescription.
The College retained an expert who reviewed the
standard of care provided by Dr. Syed to Patient F.
The expert concluded, in part, that the care provided
by Dr. Syed did not meet the standard of the profes-
sion. The expert noted that the patient's concern was
of the lesion on her labia, and it is standard practice
to examine this lesion. According to the expert,
sometimes a physician may defer an exam, but this
would be based on agreement with the patient, which
was not the case in this instance. Regarding the
concern about the prescription provided, the expert
noted that for a typical yeast infection, a patient may
potentially be prescribed Diflucan 150mg for one
day and/or a topical treatment (such as the Terazol
7), while Dr. Syed prescribed Diflucan for seven days
along with a repeat. According to the expert, this is a
definite concern, as it is not the standard treatment
for a common yeast infection (as Dr. Syed implied it
was in his letter). At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Syed waived his
right to an appeal and the Committee administered the
public reprimand.
DIALOGUE ISSUE 4, 2018
DR. MICHAEL CLARENCE
TJANDRAWIDJAJA
PRACTICE LOCATION: Brampton
AREA OF PRACTICE: Cardiology
HEARING INFORMATION: Admission; Agreed Statement of
Facts; Joint Submission on Penalty
On June 25, 2018, the Discipline Committee found
that Dr. Tjandrawidjaja committed an act of profes-
sional misconduct, in that he engaged in an act or
omission relevant to the practice of medicine that,
having regard to all the circumstances, would reason-
ably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishon-
ourable or unprofessional.
Dr. Tjandrawidjaja is a physician who currently
practises as a cardiologist in Brampton. He received
his certificate of registration authorizing indepen-
dent practice in Ontario in 2012. At the time of the
incidents described below, Dr. Tjandrawidjaja was a
member of the Ontario Medical Association.
TENTATIVE PHYSICIAN SERVICES
AGREEMENT (tPSA)
On July 11, 2016, the OMA and the Ontario