Howard Kennedy

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.