DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
ORDER The Discipline Committee ordered: revocation of Dr. Fung’ s certificate of registration; a reprimand; and payment of costs to the College in the amount of $ 5,000. For complete details of the Order, please see the full decision at www. cpso. on. ca. Select Find a Doctor and enter the doctor’ s name.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Fung waived his right of appeal and the Committee administered the public reprimand.
DR. PARAMJIT GILL
PRACTICE LOCATION: Brampton AREA OF PRACTICE: Internal Medicine
HEARING INFORMATION: Admission; Agreed Statement of Facts; Joint Submission on Penalty
On November 2, 2016, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Gill committed acts 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; he has been found guilty of an offence relevant to his suitability to practise; and he contravened a term, condition or limitation on his certificate of registration. Dr. Gill, an internist, practised medicine at the Brampton Civic Hospital, William Osler Health Centre, in the Intensive Care Unit. From about 1998 to 2006, Dr. Gill experienced alcohol addiction. In July 2006, he was admitted into the residential program at a facility dedicated to treating mental health and addiction issues. Upon completing that program, Dr. Gill entered into a contract with the Physician Health Program, a program administered through the Ontario Medical Association, for a five-year period ending in August 2011. As a result of a relapse into addiction, Dr. Gill engaged in a variety of misconduct in order to maintain a supply of narcotic opioids, including Percocet, Oxycocet, Oxycodone, Lorazepam and Endocet. Dr. Gill used narcotics that had been prescribed by other physicians for Dr. Gill’ s close family members. He also prescribed narcotics himself, ostensibly for others, including his close family members, but these narcotics were for his own consumption. He solicited prescriptions for narcotics from colleagues. Dr. Gill also forged other physicians’ signatures and prescription pads in order to obtain narcotics for himself. Ultimately, as a result of his conduct, Dr. Gill was referred to discipline by the College and also faced multiple criminal charges.
CHRONOLOGY The College commenced an investigation after hearing about concerns about Dr. Gill’ s prescribing practice. On October 20, 2014, the College conducted an unannounced visit to Dr. Gill’ s home. Dr. Gill advised the College he was on leave from the William Osler Health Centre, which was subsequently confirmed by the hospital. The College initiated a preliminary Health Inquiry based on the concerns received from a pharmacist and information from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that Dr. Gill was receiving opioid prescriptions from a number of physicians. Dr. Gill failed to attend assessments, including an addiction assessment, ordered by the College’ s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee. He also failed to provide signed consents to the College for access to personal health information. As a result of both of these failures, his certificate of registration was suspended on December 23, 2014. On April 1, 2015, Dr. Gill entered into a five-year monitoring contract with the Physician Health Program and subsequently entered into an undertaking with the College dated May 14, 2015. The suspension of Dr. Gill’ s certificate of registration was lifted on June 12, 2015. On April 29, 2016, following referral to discipline, Dr. Gill entered into a further undertaking with the
Full decisions are available online at www. cpso. on. ca. Select Find a Doctor and enter the doctor’ s name.
ISSUE 1, 2018 DIALOGUE 51