DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
Hugging and Kissing
Dr. Beairsto testified that his standard practice was
to routinely end psychotherapy sessions with a hug
and a kiss. The Committee did not accept that the
routine practice of hugging and kissing every patient
in the course of every visit is appropriate.
Although the touching was not of a sexual nature,
Dr. Beairsto’s conduct would reasonably be regarded
by members as crossing doctor-patient boundaries
with a vulnerable therapeutic patient, and was dis-
graceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional.
Crotch Touching
Patient A testified that Dr. Beairsto touched himself
near his genitals and then smelled his hand during
an appointment. Patient A said that this incident left
her feeling embarrassed.
Dr. Beairsto testified that he may have moved
his hand from somewhere below the desk towards
his nose as part of a demonstration to explain that
smelling one’s vaginal discharge could be helpful in
determining if a vaginal infection had resolved.
The Committee found that what Dr. Beairsto said
and did was unprofessional. It is so outside the norm
of what is a professional way to communicate medi-
cal information that, even if not a salacious gesture as
alleged, it is completely inappropriate, and the Com-
mittee finds Dr. Beairsto’s conduct to be disgraceful,
dishonourable, and unprofessional.
ORDER
The Committee ordered: the immediate revocation
of Dr. Beairsto’s certificate of registration; a repri-
mand; the posting of a letter of credit for $16,060.00
to guarantee the payment of any amount he may be
required to reimburse for funding for the patient. He
was also ordered to pay costs to the College in the
amount of $24,420.00.
For complete details, 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. Beairsto waived
his right to an appeal and the Committee administered
the public reprimand.
DR. PETER BERNARD COTE
PRACTICE LOCATION: Manitouwadge
AREA OF PRACTICE: General Practice
HEARING INFORMATION: Admission, Agreed Statement of
Facts, Joint Submission on Penalty
On December 8, 2017, the Discipline Committee
found that Dr. Cote committed an act of professional
misconduct, in that he has engaged in conduct or an
act or omission relevant to the practice of medicine
that, having regard to all of the circumstances, would
reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful,
dishonorable, or unprofessional.
During the relevant period of time, Dr. Cote was
practising in Manitouwadge, District of Thunder
Bay. He graduated from McGill University’s medi-
cal school in 1988 and was granted a certificate of
registration authorizing independent practice in
September 1990. Dr. Cote held hospital privileges at
the Manitouwadge General Hospital.
Physician Health Program
On November 14, 2012, Dr. Cote entered into
a 3-year monitoring contract with the Physician
Health Program (PHP) as resolution to an inca-
pacity matter. On June 4, 2014, the College received
a monitoring report from Dr. Cote's PHP Case Man-
ager, outlining concerns with respect to Dr. Cote's
adherence to the contract, including one missed
urine screen; one positive urine screen and insuffi-
cient attendance with his treating clinician.
Undertaking with the College
This information led to Dr. Cote entering into an
Undertaking with the College in November 2014,
whereby he agreed that if he failed to comply with
his PHP Contract “…such action may constitute a
breach of this undertaking, and an act of professional
misconduct.”
On January 2, 2015, the College received the
PHP's second annual report, stating that Dr. Cote
had breached terms of his contract, including
through supplementing prescription medicine with
ISSUE 3, 2018 DIALOGUE
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