DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
five months to be remitted on terms and conditions
related to compliance with his bankruptcy proposal
and the individual counselling and educational ses-
sions related to ethics and boundary issues referred
to above. He further proposed that the remaining
two months of his suspension, after the five months
had been remitted, not be served consecutively: one
month would be served within 90 days from the date
the penalty order was made, and one month would
be served during the first half of 2017.
The Committee was mindful of the principles
relevant to the imposition of penalty in discipline
hearings. The protection of the public, particularly of
current and future patients of the practitioner, is of
paramount consideration. Other relevant principles
include: maintenance of public confidence in the
ability of the profession to govern its members and in
the reputation and integrity of the profession; general
deterrence to all members of the profession; specific
deterrence to the member; and the potential for reha-
bilitation of the member. Aggravating and mitigating
factors, if any, pertaining to the events in question
should also be considered.
As a mitigating factor, the Committee recognized
Dr. Virani’s cooperation with the College in this
matter. The Committee also noted Dr. Virani’s previ-
ous discipline history, but because it was related to a
clinical care issue, the Committee did not view this
as a significant aggravating factor.
The Committee concluded that the appropriate
sanction in this matter is an eight-month suspension,
a requirement that Dr. Virani successfully complete
an ethics course, a reprimand, and costs of a one day
hearing.
he argued to the Court, in an appeal heard on June
5, 2017, that the eight-month suspension was too
high and out of proportion with prior penalty orders
of the Discipline Committee in similar cases.
On July 27, 2017, the Divisional Court released its
decision in the above-noted matter, dismissing the
physician’s appeal and upholding the order made by
the Discipline Committee. The Court noted that the
eight-month suspension was reasonable on the facts
of this case.
Full decisions are available online at www.cpso.on.ca.
Select Doctor Search and enter the doctor’s name.
ORDER
In summary, the Committee ordered and directed an
eight-month suspension; the completion of an ethics
course; a public reprimand; and payment of costs for
a one-day hearing in the amount of $5,000.
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.
APPEAL
Dr. Virani appealed the penalty decision of the Dis-
cipline Committee to Divisional Court. In particular,
ISSUE 3, 2017 DIALOGUE
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