DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
College, resigning his prescribing privileges except for issuing doctors’ orders for hospital inpatients that may be dispensed only by a hospital dispensary. To date, Dr. Gill has complied with the terms of the undertakings provided to the College and has complied with the terms set out in the PHP contract.
DISGRACEFUL, DISHONOURABLE OR UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT In November 2013, a pharmacist reported to the College that, since at least 2009, Dr. Gill had been picking up prescriptions for Percocet in the name of a close family member and he was also the prescribing physician. The College obtained information regarding the different means used by Dr. Gill to obtain narcotic opioids for his personal consumption. Dr. Gill wrote and filled prescriptions for narcotic opioids in the names of close family members on numerous occasions between 2009 and 2015. He also wrote and filled prescriptions for narcotic opioids in his own name and in two other individuals’ names between 2011 and 2014. These prescriptions were obtained from multiple pharmacies, and no OHIP billings were associated with the prescriptions. Most, if not all, of these narcotic opioids were for Dr. Gill’ s own use. Dr. Gill also forged prescriptions in three other physicians’ names, falsifying their signatures and the prescription itself, as well as using the physicians’ College registration numbers. The prescriptions were written in the names of Dr. Gill’ s close family members and another individual. Dr. Gill filled the prescriptions and personally used these drugs. Dr. Gill also sought out prescriptions for narcotics from his colleagues at the hospital, which was how the hospital learned that Dr. Gill was experiencing a narcotic addiction.
Writing Prescriptions Post-Suspension Following the suspension of his certificate of registration on December 22, 2014, Dr. Gill continued to prescribe himself narcotics and also wrote prescriptions for opioids in the names of close family members until at least January 27, 2015.
Criminal Charges On January 30, 2015, the Peel Regional Police charged Dr. Gill with 52 counts of fraud under $ 5,000 and 18 counts of uttering a forged document under the Criminal Code of Canada. On September 22, 2016, Dr. Gill was found guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice of one count of fraud and one count of uttering a forged document, following his guilty plea. Sentencing in the Ontario Court of Justice had been put over to January 19, 2017.
ORDER The Discipline Committee ordered: a five-month suspension on Dr. Gill’ s certificate of registration; a reprimand; the imposition of terms, conditions and limitations on Dr. Gill’ s certificate of registration; and payment to the College of costs in the amount of $ 5,000.
There are significant restrictions on the drugs that Dr. Gill will be able to issue or renew. Any existing restricted drugs that Dr. Gill may have in his possession must be returned. As an aspect of Dr. Gill’ s return to practice, he will only be able to prescribe the restricted drugs to his in-patients, only during their in-patient stay, and only through the hospital pharmacy. In the event that Dr. Gill practises in a location other than the hospital, he must post a sign in any language in which he provides services, outlining the list of drugs that he must not prescribe. The College must be informed of all practice locations and will have the authority to conduct unannounced inspections of his practice locations and patient charts. The College will have the authority to make appropriate enquiries of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, the Drug Program Services Branch and the Narcotics Monitoring System. Furthermore, the College may provide the penalty Order to any Chief of Staff, or a colleague with similar responsibilities, thus providing additional oversight of his clinical activities. Finally, Dr. Gill will be subject to an assessment of his practice when he returns to clinical practice. 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. Gill waived his right to an appeal and the Committee administered the public reprimand.
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 1, 2018