discipline summaries
ed it by altering the patient chart of the original
complainant and then lied about doing so. Dr. Ng’s
dishonesty and disrespect for the authority of the
College are totally unacceptable.
The Committee found that aggravating factors
in Dr. Ng’s case include the multiple areas of clini-
cal practice in which Dr. Ng failed to maintain the
acceptable standard of practice, and his repeated
failures to meet this standard despite the opportunity
provided to him to correct his deficiencies regarding
cleanliness and infection control.
The Committee found that Dr. Ng’s dishonesty in
responding initially to the College investigation was
a further aggravating factor.
Dr. Ng has no previous disciplinary history with
the College. The Committee recognized that Dr. Ng
did not contest the College’s allegations of profes-
sional misconduct and incompetence with respect
to infection control procedures. Doing so avoided a
contested hearing.
Dr. Ng signed an undertaking to resign from the
College and never to re-apply to practise medicine in
Ontario or in any other jurisdiction.
The Committee found that, in light of the facts and
circumstances outlined above, Dr. Ng should not
be permitted to continue to practise. His multiple
failings and deficiencies have continually placed his
patients at risk.
The Committee was satisfied that Dr. Ng’s under-
taking to resign from the College and never re-apply
to practise medicine in this or any other jurisdiction
will ensure that the public is protected. If Dr. Ng had
not undertaken to resign, the Committee would have
concluded that revocation of his certificate of regis-
tration would be the appropriate penalty.
In summary, the Committee ordered and directed
that Dr. Ng appear before the panel to be repri-
manded and pay to the College costs in the amount
of $4,460.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Ng waived his right
to appeal and the public reprimand was administered.
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.
Dr. Sherapartap Singh Rai
Practice Location: Leamington
Area of Practice: Family Medicine
Hearing Information: Contested
Hearing, Joint Submission on Penalty
On January 19, 2016, the Discipline Committee
found that Dr. Sherapartap Rai committed an act of
professional misconduct, in that he 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. The Committee
found that an allegation that Dr. Rai had engaged in
sexual abuse of a patient was not established, based
on the evidence.
During the relevant time period, Dr. Rai practised
in an emergency room at the only hospital in a small
town. He was also engaged in a sexual relationship with
the woman in issue, Ms. A, throughout that period.
It was undisputed that Dr. Rai assessed, diagnosed
and treated Ms. A on one occasion in a walk-in clinic
about eight months after their relationship began,
and on nine occasions at the hospital ER over three
years.
The Discipline Committee considered a number of
factors and determined that the medical treatments
in the ER did not give rise to a physician-patient
relationship. Among other things, the Commit-
tee noted that: there was no evidence that Dr. Rai
provided regular care to Ms. A; there was no evidence
the ER visits were arranged ahead of time; there was
no evidence that there was another physician avail-
able in the ER to see her when she visited; Ms. A vis-
ited the hospital ER for legitimate medical problems
that warranted medical attention and which were ur-
gent in her view. The Committee held that “given the
context of the small town ER, Dr. Rai had no choice
but to attend to Ms. A’s medical needs and to provide
care for her problems,” finding that the ER visits
were “incidental care to a spouse, given the nature of
the visits and the unique set of circumstances in this
case.” Therefore, the allegation that Dr. Rai engaged
Issue 2, 2017 Dialogue
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