discipline summaries
funding provided to patients by posting an irrevocable letter of credit or other security acceptable to
the College in the amount of $16,060; and payment
to the College in the amount of $17,840 for costs.
Dr. Diane Elizabeth Egles
Practice Location: Southampton
Order
For complete details of the Order, please see the
full decision at www.cpso.on.ca. Select Doctor
Search and enter the Doctor’s name.
Practice Area: Family Medicine
Text of Public Reprimand
Dr. Brown, as a physician you have failed abysmally in
your obligation to this patient. You knew how vulnerable she was. There is simply no excuse whatsoever for
involving her in sexual activity. You either gave no
thought to the propriety of the sexual relationship, or
lacked the will to act in an appropriate manner.
Regardless, you demonstrated an appalling lack of understanding of your role and obligations. Your ignorance
of the dynamics at play was very troubling to this Panel.
As a psychotherapist you needed to take particular care
in regards to boundaries, yet you actively promoted a
sexualization of the relationship. You had full responsibility to control and set the boundaries of your interaction with your patient.
You indulged in gross impropriety, and in doing so
sexually abused your patient and brought shame upon
yourself. Such actions also reflect poorly on the profession
and hard-working physicians who strive to serve patients
in an honourable manner. Nothing short of separating
you from the practice of medicine will suffice as just
sanction. There is really nothing more to be said.
On April 7, 2015, the Discipline Committee found
that Dr. Egles committed an act of professional
misconduct, in that she has engaged in conduct or 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. Egles admitted
to the allegation.
Dr. Egles entered into a contract with the Physician Health Program (“PHP contract”) dated January
8, 2009, which was amended several times between
February 2009 and November 2011.
In about August 2011, in breach of her PHP Contract, Dr. Egles wrote a prescription to herself in a
colleague’s name and worked at a nursing home when
her PHP contract prohibited her from working. The
PHP reported these breaches to the College, which
led to Dr. Egles entering into an undertaking with
the College on April 16, 2012 whereby she agreed
that if she failed to comply with her PHP Contract
“…such action may constitute a breach of this undertaking, and an act of professional misconduct.”
On April 18, 2013, the College received a letter
from the PHP reporting that Dr. Egles was in breach
of her PHP contract in several ways. As a result, the
PHP suspended her monitoring contract.
On October 31, 2014, Dr. Egles entered into a
health monitoring undertaking with the College
which includes restrictions on her hours of work and
patient load.
Full decisions are available online at www.cpso.on.ca.
Select Doctor Search and enter the doctor’s name.
Hearing Information: Agreed Statement of Facts,
Admission, Joint Submission on Penalty and Costs
Reasons for Penalty
The Committee stressed the seriousness of the misconduct in this instance in that the member contravened her undertaking to the College of April 16,
2012. Dr. Egles did so in several ways: she had been
“shadowing” a physician at a hospital when not per-
36
Dialogue Issue 1, 2016