An Ottawa doctor whose clinic was at the centre of an infection scare has agreed never to practice medicine again after the College of Physicians and Surgeons found her unprofessional and incompetent.
The College held a disciplinary hearing for Dr. Christiane Farazli on Thursday after dozens of patients also came forward to say that she had brutalized them during procedures, such as colonoscopies.
In reports submitted to the College’s discipline committee, Farazli’s former patients said they endured “unbearable pain” and “inadequate sedation” during procedures in her office. Another said Farazli enlisted the help of a visiting sales rep during a procedure when her nurse failed to show up for work.
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Louise Marchand, a former patient of Dr. Christiane Farazli, speaks to CTV Ottawa on Thursday, July 24, 2014.
Patient Louise Marchand said Farazli “tortured” her during a colonoscopy.
“(I was) told to shut up and stop acting like a baby because I asked her to discontinue the procedure because I was in excruciating pain and screaming,” Marchand told CTV Ottawa.
In its final report on Farazli, the College wrote: “To treat patients in this position with gross insensitivity and disregard of their discomfort is unconscionable.”
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The College fined Farazli $4,500 and demanded that she appear before a committee in order to be reprimanded.
It also ordered her never to practice medicine in any jurisdiction again. That order includes, but is not limited to, a prohibition on having contact with patients, writing prescriptions, or being involved in the diagnosis or treatment of any person.
While Farazli was not at her disciplinary hearing, which was held in Toronto, her lawyer said Farazli has agreed to never practice medicine again.
Concerns about “lapses in infection control” at Farazli’s clinic first came to light three years ago, when Ottawa Public Health warned nearly 7,000 patients that they might have been exposed to diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.
At the time, Farazli issued an apology through the city department, saying she was “committed to the safety and well-being of my patients,” and was co-operating with OPH.
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After hundreds of patients had blood tests, it appeared that none of them contracted infections.
Nonetheless, some patients have launched a $20-million class action lawsuit.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr
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http://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/139356/Dr-Christiane-Farazli-Ottawa-ON.html
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-doctor-who-sparked-health-scare-reprimanded
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/christiane-farazli-ottawa-doctor-accused-of-unsanitary-work-1.2716074
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Farazli, Christiane CPSO#: 28541
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Practice Restrictions
Imposed By: member
Effective Date: 16 Jul 2014 Expiry Date:
Status: Active
As from July 16, 2014, the following is imposed as a term, condition and
limitation on the certificate of registration held by Dr. Christiane Farazli,
in accordance with an undertaking and consent given by Dr. Farazli to the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
Dr. Farazli shall not practise medicine in any jurisdiction. For greater
certainty and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "practise
medicine" includes, but is not limited to, any contact whatsoever with
patients; any involvement in the assessment, treatment, diagnosis or
management in respect of any person; any prescriptions of any kind (new
or renewed) to any person; preparation or participation in medical or
medico-legal reports or similar documents; teaching or supervision
related to the practice of medicine.