Other Tribunals - COO

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, 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.

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.