discipline summaries
The pattern of care you have admitted to is nothing short of appalling , and this Committee could see no evidence that you have developed insight into the nature of this problem . In fact , the past attempts at remediation have appeared to have fallen on deaf ears . You have had the opportunity to retrain in the past . Whatever you learned , however , did not translate effectively into practice . This is quite simply , unacceptable .
Your abuse of the health-care system goes beyond billing for services provided when you were not there , and includes the ordering of unnecessary and totally unjustified tests , ordering inappropriate treatment and unnecessary patient visits . Many of these were ordered by your staff who are not qualified as health-care personnel , and who were clearly and inadequately supervised .
Such behaviour compromises the effective functioning of our health-care system , and seriously undermines the public trust . The Committee has no reason to believe that effective remediation is possible , and has concluded that you need to be separated from the practice of medicine in this province .
DR . CRAITA ARINA ROMANESCU
Practice Location : Bolton Practice Area : Family Medicine
Hearing Information : Agreed Statement of Facts , Admission , Joint Submission on Penalty
On June 16 , 2015 , the Discipline Committee found that Dr . Romanescu 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 . Romanescu admitted to the allegation . In February of 2010 , the College received a complaint from a patient who had been unable to obtain her records despite repeated requests when Dr . Romanescu closed her office for an indefinite period . Dr . Romanescu was cautioned by the College regarding the need to adhere to the College ’ s policy Practice
Management Considerations for Physicians Who Cease to Practise , Take an Extended Leave of Absence , or Close Their Practice Due to Relocation . In September 2011 , Dr . Romanescu signed an undertaking with the College , in which she agreed to abide by the terms of the contract with the Physician Health Program ( PHP ) she had entered in July 2011 , and to remain in the monitoring arrangement with the PHP for five years . In November 2013 , Dr . Romanescu was advised by the PHP that she must take a leave of absence from her medical practice for health reasons . She had retained an administrative staff person who was to check messages and respond to patient requests , but this relationship was terminated shortly after Dr . Romanescu ’ s leave of absence began and then there was no one to staff the office . Thereafter , a sign was posted on the door of Dr . Romanescu ’ s office and a voicemail message was left on the office ’ s telephone system advising patients that the office was closed , but the voicemail message was only intermittently in place . In December 2013 , Dr . Romanescu ’ s lawyer contacted the College to advise that Dr . Romanescu had no administrative staff . Over the following months , Dr . Romanescu and her lawyer attended at her office on several occasions to process patient record requests and the delivery of test results and other mail to patients . The College received nine formal complaints from patients in relation to the sudden closure of Dr . Romanescu ’ s office in November 2013 . They expressed frustration that Dr . Romanescu had closed her office abruptly , without prior notice , and without having made prior arrangements to address patient requests with respect to obtaining their medical records , prescription renewals and test results should she be unable to work in the future . In addition to the formal complaints , the College received numerous additional contacts from patients who shared similar experiences and expressed frustration at not being able to obtain medical records , prescription renewals and test results .
Full decisions are available online at www . cpso . on . ca . Select Doctor Search and enter the doctor ’ s name .
Issue 2 , 2016 Dialogue 57