DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
tients’ visits for which he did not have a direct physical
encounter. Second, Dr. Makerewich improperly billed
for the special surgical consultation, A395A. He did not
meet the criteria for this code which required that he
spend the entire 50 minutes with the patient. Finally,
during the regulatory proceeding, Dr. Makerewich
incorrectly informed the court that he discontinued inappropriately billing the A935A after charges were laid
in June 2009, when, in fact, he continued this practise
of inappropriately billing A935A until May 27, 2010.
Mitigating factors were substantial. Avoiding the costs
and time of a contested hearing by having a joint
submission with agreed facts was a mitigating factor.
In addition, the Committee was informed that there
was no evidence of intentional dishonesty or intent
to deceive by Dr. Makerewich. The Committee heard
that Dr. Makerewich’s inappropriate billings were an
aberration as opposed to a pattern. Further, after the
interview with the College medical inspector on May
28, 2010, Dr. Makerewich immediately modified his
practice, and discontinued billing the A935A billing
code. During this same interview on May 28, 2010, the
College medical inspector also stated that Dr. Makerewich’s standard of care was exemplary, and, therefore,
patient care was never put at risk at any time as a result
of these offences. In the regulatory proceedings, Dr.
Makerewich pled guilty and paid a $10,000 fine for
receiving payment of $436.25 for insured services he
was not entitled to receive. Finally, Dr. Makerewich had
no discipline history before the College, nor any prior
offences under the Health Insurance Act.
After lengthy deliberation, the Committee concluded
that the proposed penalty was within the range of previous penalties for similar cases, albeit at the higher end
of that range. College members have a responsibility to
know, understand, and adhere to the Ontario Schedule
of Benefits when billing for services. Improper billing
ultimately compromises patient care by limiting the
availability of OHIP funds. Furthermore, appropriate
guidelines and regulations for delegation must be followed as physician extenders are used more frequently
in the health-care system.
The Committee found that the penalty and costs order
jointly proposed was consistent with the public interest,
and appropriate in the circumstances of this case.
Order
Full decisions are available online
at www.cpso.on.ca.
Select Doctor Search and enter
the doctor’s name.
The Committee ordered
and directed that:
1. he Registrar suspend
t
Dr. Makerewich’s certificate of registration
for a period of two months commencing immediately.
2. r. Makerewich attend before this panel to be repriD
manded.
3. he Registrar impose the following term, condition
t
and limitation on Dr. Makerewich’s certificate of
registration:
(i) r. Makerewich must successfully complete, at
D
his own expense, College-facilitated instruction
in ethics within one year from the date of this
Order.
4. r. Makerewich pay costs to the College in the
D
amount of $3,650.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Makerewich waived
his right to an appeal and the Committee administered the
public reprimand.
DR. WIESLAWA HANNA MOORE
Practice Location: Ottawa
Practice Area: General Practice
Hearing Information: Agreed Statement of Facts,
Admission, Joint Submission on Penalty
On April 12, 2013, the Discipline Committee found
that Dr. Moore committed an act of professional misconduct, in that she has engaged in an act or omission
relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard
to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded
by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
Dr. Moore had admitted to the allegation.
Dr. Moore met Mr. X in the spring of 2002, while Mr.
X was completing a renovation contract at the clinic
where she worked. Dr. Moore hired Mr. X to do renovations on her home in the summer of 2002.
In 2002, Dr. Moore and Mr. X began a romantic and
sexual relationship. Shortly thereafter, Mr. X moved into
DIALOGUE • Issue 1, 2014
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