DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
co-patients during individual sessions and sharing information about one patient during a group session would constitute breaches of confidentiality contrary to CPSO policy. As such, Dr. Roche falls below the standard of care.
• Dr. Roche was inappropriately billing for family therapy instead of individual or group therapy. There is a financial advantage to coding therapy sessions as family therapy.
• Dr. Roche’ s documentation failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession. There is little mention of the particular symptoms of major depressive disorder for which the patient was receiving treatment. It was difficult to ascertain the patient’ s clinical status of any given time which is essential. There was no suicide risk assessment.
The psychiatric expert concluded that the most notable demonstrations of falling below the standard of care related to the lack of boundaries between Dr. Roche and certain patients. The College retained a second psychiatric expert opinion who, like the first expert, opined that Dr. Roche did not meet the standard of practice and showed a lack of knowledge skill and judgment with respect to observing appropriate boundaries with her patients. The second expert also found Dr. Roche breached the standard of care by billing her individual sessions with Patient A as family sessions, at a higher rate than she was entitled. Dr. Roche signed an Undertaking, Acknowledgment and Consent on February 17, 2017, in which she resigned from the College effective March 10, 2017 and agreed not to apply or re-apply for registration as a physician in Ontario or any other jurisdiction after that date.
ORDER In light of Dr. Roche’ s undertaking to resign and to not re-apply, the Committee ordered: a reprimand; and payment to the College for costs in the amount of $ 5,500.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Dr. Roche’ s counsel waived Dr. Roche’ s right to an appeal on her behalf, and the Committee administered the public reprimand in Dr. Roche’ s absence.
DR. ARTURO SANCHEZ
PRACTICE LOCATION: Toronto AREA OF PRACTICE: Pediatrics
HEARING INFORMATION: Plea of No Contest; Agreed Statement of Facts
On May 1, 2017, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Sanchez committed an act of professional misconduct in that he was found guilty of an offence that is relevant to his suitability to practise. Dr. Sanchez was a pediatrician who had a practice in Toronto. He resigned his certificate of registration on November 16, 2015. On December 7, 2015, Dr. Sanchez was convicted of two counts of indecent assault with respect to Patient A and one count of indecent assault with respect to Patient F. The trial judge’ s findings with respect to Patients A and F include the following:
Patient A When Patient A was 14 and 15 years old, she was hospitalized in Toronto’ s Hospital for Sick Children. The trial judge found that during these admissions, Dr. Sanchez touched Patient A’ s breasts and vagina for a sexual purpose. The trial judge found that one night during Patient A’ s second hospital admission, Dr. Sanchez came in her room during the night, got on top of her and touched her breasts and vagina. This was done for his sexual gratification. These events happened in the 1960s.
Patient F When Patient F was approximately 11 years old, she was prescribed weekly allergy shots. Dr. Sanchez would come to her home to give her these shots. The trial judge found that on one of these weekly visits, Dr. Sanchez gave Patient F a hug from the back and put his hands down the front of her shirt. On another occasion, Dr. Sanchez touched Patient F’ s breast for a sexual purpose.
CRIMINAL TRIAL SENTENCE On March 30, 2016 Dr. Sanchez was sentenced to 18 months incarceration. In imposing the sentence,
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 2, 2018