Dialogue Volume 15 Issue 1 2019 | Page 44

DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES Dr. Alexander entered into an undertaking with the College to practise under clinical supervision and undergo a reassessment of his practice. As a result of the reassessment of his practice, the College’s assessor identified numerous deficiencies in Dr. Alexander’s practice, including that he: • Took limited patient histories; • Performed physical examinations that were not tailored to the patient’s presenting problems and/or were performed incorrectly; • Did not consistently document physical examina- tions; • Performed assessments that were lacking; • Developed treatment plans that were lacking or absent; • Failed to take appropriate steps to manage infection control; and • Provided only monthly prescriptions to patients on chronic medication, requiring them to return frequently and unnecessarily to the office. Dr. Alexander admitted that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession with respect to 13 out of 15 charts reviewed. In the course of communicating with the College regarding the cases reviewed by the College’s assessor, Dr. Alexander forwarded to the College a copy of a patient agreement for opioid therapy pertaining to Patient Q. Dr. Alexander’s counsel advised that the agreement was signed in 2009, but the agreement had a copyright date of 2011. The College obtained three patient charts of Dr. Alexander’s patients containing opioid agreements, all of which had a copyright date of 2011 but were dated 2009, 2008, and 1996, respectively. Dr. Alexander admitted that he had back-dated each of the patient agreements for opioid therapy and that providing Patient Q’s agree- ment to the College with the assertion that it had been signed in 2009, when it had been signed in or after 2011 and dated 1996, was misleading. At the penalty phase of the hearing, the Committee considered Dr. Alexander’s history with the College, including two prior Discipline Committee findings: a 1991 finding of disgraceful, dishonourable and un- professional conduct for failing to report an incident of suspected abuse to the Children’s Aid Society; and 44 DIALOGUE ISSUE 1, 2019 a 2012 finding that he failed to maintain the stan- dard of practice of the profession in his care of 28 patients. The 2013 reassessment that led to Dr. Alex- ander’s undertaking was conducted pursuant to the Discipline Committee’s 2012 Order. The Committee also considered Dr. Alexander’s complaints history with the College, including a caution in writing and three verbal cautions. ORDER The Discipline Committee ordered: a six-month suspension on Dr. Alexander’s certificate of registra- tion; a reprimand; terms, conditions and limitations placed on Dr. Alexander’s certificate of registration; and hearing costs to the College in the amount of $6,000. The terms, conditions and limitations include ordering Dr. Alexander to practice under clinical supervision for 12 months following his return to practice; a reassessment; and a restriction on how many patients Dr. Alexander can see each day. For complete details, please see the full decision at www.cpso.on.ca. Select Find a Doctor and enter the doctor’s name. At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Alexander waived his right to an appeal and the Committee ad- ministered the public reprimand. DR. FELIPE EDUARDO ALLENDES PRACTICE LOCATION: Hamilton AREA OF PRACTICE: Emergency Medicine HEARING INFORMATION: Plea of No Contest; State- ment of Uncontested Facts; Joint Submission on Penalty On October 16, 2018, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Allendes committed an act of profes- sional misconduct, in that he engaged in conduct or an act or omission relevant to the practice of medi- cine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as dis- graceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, in that he has breached a term, condition or limitation on