discipline summaries
volunteered to assume the role of CME coordinator for
the department of anesthesia and arranged four grand
rounds in the first six months of 2014.
Penalty and Reasons for Penalty
The Committee was mindful of the mitigating factors
in this case. Dr. Sharma acknowledged his wrongdoing,
thus sparing the College the costs of a contested hearing
and the need for witnesses to testify. Dr. Sharma also
had no prior disciplinary history with the College.
The Committee also recognized that several of the incidents of concern took place a number of years ago and
that Dr. Sharma made considerable efforts to remediate
his practices in the interval.
The Committee noted the significant number of
letters in support of Dr. Sharma, from a broad base of
physicians and nurses who have interacted with Dr.
Sharma over the years and more recently.
The Committee considered that the proposed penalty
would uphold the relevant penalty principles. Protection of the public is achieved by the appointment of
a clinical supervisor and the subsequent re-assessment
of his clinical practice. These steps will provide further
rehabilitation of the member and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the profession. These measures
provide specific deterrence to the member and serve as
general deterrence to the profession. The public reprimand serves to emphasize to the member and to the
profession that all patients are entitled to a physician’s
full and undivided attention, for the duration of their
need, and at an acceptable professional standard.
of clinical supervision shall last for 12 months
commencing on the day the clinical supervisor is
retained. Dr. Sharma will abide at his own expense
by all recommendations of his clinical supervisor with respect to practice improvements and/or
professional development;
(c) U
pon completion of this period of supervision,
within six months, Dr. Sharma shall undergo a
re-assessment of his clinical practice by a Collegeappointed assessor. The results of the reassessment
shall be reported to the College, which may use the
reassessment results to ground further investigations or proceedings if appropriate; and
(d) Dr. Sharma shall be responsible for any and all
costs associated with implementing the terms of
this Order.
3. D
r. Sharma shall, within 30 days, pay the College its
costs of this proceeding in the amount of $4,460.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Sharma waived his
right to an appeal and the Committee administered the
public reprimand.
Full decisions are available online at www.cpso.on.ca.
Select Doctor Search and enter the doctor’s name.
Order
The Committee ordered and directed that:
1. Dr. Sharma attend before the panel to be reprimanded.
2. the Registrar impose the following terms, conditions
and limitations on the certificate of registration of
Dr. Sharma:
(a) Dr. Sharma shall complete, at his own expense, an
educational program on communications facilitated by the College within 12 months from the date
of this Order;
(b) Dr. Sharma shall, within 30 days from the date
of this Order, retain a College-approved clinical supervisor, who will sign an undertaking. The period
Issue 3, 2015 Dialogue
65