College of Optometrists of Ontario

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing for an optometrist found to have committed professional misconduct by failing to identify a serious eye condition and making inappropriate comments to a patient.

The College sought a reprimand, a two-month suspension, practice coaching, and costs, citing the member's extensive prior disciplinary history and lack of insight.

The member argued no penalty was warranted.

The Panel ordered a reprimand, a two-month suspension, practice coaching, a practice inspection, completion of an ethics course, and $50,000 in costs, emphasizing the need for specific deterrence and public protection.

The member, an optometrist, faced allegations of professional misconduct relating to substandard oculo-visual assessments of university students and elementary school children, failure to refer a patient with a suspected eye condition, and significant record-keeping deficiencies, including altering a patient record after the fact.

The member pled guilty to the allegations via an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a four-week suspension, practice coaching, an essay, a practice inspection, and $10,000 in costs.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought allegations of professional misconduct against the respondent for failing to diagnose, monitor, record, and refer a patient with an iris nevus that was later diagnosed as an iris melanoma.

The respondent pled guilty to the allegations.

The Discipline Committee found the respondent committed professional misconduct and ordered a reprimand, a practice coaching program, and $7,500 in costs.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against the respondent optometrist for professional misconduct, including failing to release prescriptions, failing to maintain standards of practice during oculo-visual assessments, and failing to maintain proper records.

The respondent pleaded guilty to the allegations and the parties presented an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty.

The Discipline Committee accepted the guilty plea, found the respondent committed professional misconduct, and ordered a reprimand, a two-week suspension, the completion of a reflective essay, a practice inspection, and $7,500 in costs.

The member optometrist pled guilty to professional misconduct for improperly delegating controlled acts (communicating a diagnosis and prescribing eyeglasses) to an optician, failing to maintain proper patient records, and allowing false claims to be submitted to an insurer.

The Discipline Committee accepted an agreed statement of facts and a joint submission on penalty.

The member was reprimanded, his certificate of registration was suspended for three weeks, and he was ordered to complete a professional ethics course, write an essay, undergo a practice inspection, and pay $20,000 in costs.

The member, an optometrist, faced allegations of professional misconduct for providing unnecessary diagnostic and treatment services, inappropriate billing of OHIP and patients, making unsupported diagnoses, and failing to maintain adequate records.

The matter proceeded on an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Order and Costs.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct and accepted the joint submission, ordering a reprimand, a 3.5-month suspension, practice monitoring, educational courses, and $25,000 in costs.

The member, an optometrist, faced allegations of professional misconduct for sexually abusing three patients who were also his employees, making inappropriate and sexual comments in patient records, and applying white-out to records to conceal information during a College investigation.

The member admitted to the allegations via an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a public reprimand, a four-month suspension, completion of ethics courses, $48,180 in security for patient therapy, and $30,000 in costs.

The member, an optometrist, faced allegations of professional misconduct for practicing while in a conflict of interest, sharing fees with a non-member, and practicing through an unauthorized professional corporation.

The member admitted to the allegations via an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Accepting a Joint Submission on Penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, terms and conditions on the member's certificate including an essay and independent contractor agreement oversight, and $7,500 in costs.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought professional misconduct allegations against Dr. Gordon Ng for submitting false OHIP claims and failing to maintain patient records.

Dr. Ng pled guilty to the allegations, acknowledging his prior provincial offences convictions for OHIP fraud.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a 14-week suspension, completion of an ethics course, and $5,000 in costs.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought allegations of professional misconduct against the respondent for failing to maintain proper patient and financial records, failing to issue receipts, and failing to ensure patient confidentiality.

The respondent pled guilty to the allegations and admitted to the facts in an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the respondent guilty of professional misconduct.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, $5,000 in costs, and a two-month suspension that would be fully suspended if the respondent successfully completed a period of practice coaching.

Four optometrists faced allegations of professional misconduct related to inadequate eye examinations, poor record keeping, and improper record storage while participating in a School Vision Care program.

The members pled guilty to the allegations and submitted an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, which included a reprimand, a two-week suspension (which could be suspended upon completion of an essay), continuing education requirements, practice inspections, and costs of $5,000 per member.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought allegations of professional misconduct against Dr. Anthony Angelone for failing to maintain the standard of practice in his care of sixteen pediatric patients between 2009 and 2014.

The member admitted to the allegations, acknowledging failures to properly diagnose and treat conditions such as amblyopia and refractive errors.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

The Committee also accepted a Joint Submission on Penalty, ordering a reprimand, $10,000 in costs, mandatory continuing education, and a condition restricting the member from treating children eight years of age and under until the successful completion of a mentorship program.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against the member for failing to abide by a written undertaking to complete a remedial program.

The member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee accepted the guilty plea and the joint submission on penalty.

The member was reprimanded, had terms and conditions placed on her certificate of registration requiring completion of a remediation program, and was ordered to pay $5,000 in costs.

The member faced allegations of professional misconduct for misleading the College of Optometrists of Ontario regarding his practice arrangements.

Specifically, the member misrepresented that he was paying rent to an optical dispensary to comply with conflict of interest regulations, when in fact he had not paid rent for approximately four years.

The member admitted to the allegations.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a four-week suspension (with two weeks suspended upon completion of an ethics course and proof of rent payment), and $6,500 in costs.