Anthony Auyeung, Toronto

Background: In 2006, the College of Physicians and Surgeons found Auyeung, a fertility specialist, guilty of professional misconduct. After a sexual relationship with his part-time receptionist ended, the woman became an “anonymous ovum donor” in his practice, which constituted “boundary violations” and “a violation of the anonymity guaranteed to the patient,” reads a college disciplinary report. The college suspended his licence for three months, forgiving one of those months if he agreed to take a course on medical ethics.

Response: Auyeung did not respond to repeated interview requests. A receptionist at his office indicated he would not be commenting.

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Gbade Ayoade, Toronto

Background: In December 2014, Ayoade agreed to a self-imposed undertaking that simply reads: “Dr. Ayoade may not engage in the practice of obstetrics in any hospital setting.” No reasons for the restriction are provided by the college.

Response: Ayoade did not respond to repeated interview requests. A receptionist at his office said he will not comment.

Surreyya Aziz, Ottawa

Background: In 2008, the college’s executive committee ruled Aziz must apply to the regulatory body before practising colposcopy (a diagnostic procedure for examining female genital area).

Response: “I didn’t knowingly do anything wrong. It was a missed guideline and I have not performed a colposcopy since the undertaking. I am not a threat to the public,” Aziz said in a phone call.

Oluleke Badmos, Toronto

Background: Badmos’ college record lists no findings or concerns. After criminal charges last year for sexual assault against a former patient that were dropped by the Crown, a college spokesperson said an internal investigation continues.

Response: “I am very pleased that the charges have been completely withdrawn and I can fully resume my practice and my role at Toronto East General Hospital,” Badmos said in a September press release. His lawyer said he could offer no further comment.

Joyce Beryl Rejeanne Wong Buckley, Ottawa

Background: In a 2012 decision, the college found Buckley guilty of professional misconduct after hearing that the medical licensing body in New York state had revoked her licence and ordered her to pay a fine of $40,000. The New York State Board of Professional Medical Conduct concluded that between 2005 and 2007, Buckley authorized 75,000 prescriptions to people across the U.S. at a fee of $2 each. The college ordered Buckley to attend an ethics course and pay $3,650 in costs.

Response: Buckley did not respond to repeated interview requests.

Elliott Cohen, Ottawa

Background: In a 2012 decision, the college found Cohen, who has a practice in Ottawa and New York state, committed an act of professional misconduct after hearing the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct ruled he had prescribed prescription drugs to pharmacy customers for a fee between 2005 and 2007, the decision reads. The state board reprimanded Cohen and ordered a fine of $10,000. Upon a request for review, the Administrative Review Board added a three-year suspension, which was stayed except for three months, and a fine was set at $30,000. The college ordered Cohen to attend an ethics course and pay $3,650 in costs.

Response: Cohen did not respond to repeated interview requests.

Laurence Colman, Toronto

Background: Colman imposed restrictions on his own medical licence last year limiting his office-based gynecological practice to basic procedures and his hospital practice to working as a “surgical assistant and attending to antenatal and postpartum patients.” No reasons for the restriction are provided by the college.

Response: Colman could not be reached for comment.

Lanval Daly, Toronto

Background: In March, 2012, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto made a finding of professional negligence against Daly for performing a hysterectomy on a woman during a procedure without her consent. A judge awarded the woman $75,000 in damages.

Response: “There was no criminal conviction, it was a civil matter, nor is there any restrictions on Dr. Daly’s licence with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario,” his lawyer said in a written response.

Dawood Dawood, Gloucester

Background: In 2014, Dawood entered into a member undertaking with the College in which he agreed to not practice colposcopy (a procedure for examining female genitals for disease). No reasons for the restriction are provided by the college.

Response: Dawood did not respond to repeated interview requests.

Salim Daya, Mississauga

Background: The college’s disciplinary committee is currently considering allegations that Daya engaged in the “sexual abuse of a patient and/or disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct including touching her vagina in a sexual manner,” reads the notice of hearing. Limitations on his licence prevent him from engaging in “any professional encounter or interaction with any female person except in the presence of a monitor . . . for any length of time, whether or not a parent or guardian of the patient, or any other person, is also present.” He is also restricted from performing Tompkins metroplasty (reconstructive surgery on the uterus).

Response: Daya did not respond to repeated interview requests.

Shamsa Deeb, Winchester

Background: Last month, Deeb was the subject of a complaint regarding her care and treatment of a patient. Following a college investigation, Deeb must now practise under the guidance of a clinical supervisor for 12 months. She must also take professional education in medical record keeping.

Response: Deeb responded to Star/Ryerson reporters to say “this is my first time going through this. I am very disappointed.” She declined to comment further.

Cathy Frank, London

Background: In 2011, Frank self-imposed restrictions on her licence as part of an undertaking with the college that prevented her from practising “in the area of gynecological or obstetrical surgery unless she is doing so as part of a remediation program pre-approved by the college.” It continues: “She shall not apply for gynecological or obstetrical surgery privileges at any hospital whatsoever and for further clarity, she shall not engage in the practice of medicine as the Most Responsible Physician (“MRP”) in respect of any obstetrical or gynecological patients, at any hospital whatsoever.” Last year, she signed another undertaking saying she may not engage in ultrasound testing or the interpretation of ultrasound images or perform ultrasound-guided procedures “except to the extent necessary to complete a college-approved remediation program.”

Response: “People believe that such a physician facing dozens of lawsuits must either be mad or bad,” Frank said in an email to the Star in July. “I am neither.”

Douglas Gare, Toronto

Background: In September 1983, the college discipline committee found Gare guilty of professional misconduct, in that he “failed to carry out the terms of an agreement with a patient,” and “failed to maintain the standard of practice” of the profession. The committee ordered Gare reprimanded and his licence suspended for 30 days. His appeal was dismissed.

Response: Gare did not respond to Star/Ryerson requests for comment, but in an email his receptionist wrote, “I did pass the letter onto Dr. Gare and I’m assuming if he has not contacted you, he is not interested.”

Richard Gruneir, Leamington

Background: In November 2012, Gruneir gave up practising medicine as part of an undertaking with the college. Gruneir is currently the defendant in at least two civil suits, including one that alleges negligence from mismanagement of a high-risk pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth and an alleged unnecessary full hysterectomy on a 32-year-old woman. The allegations have not been proven.

Response: Gruneir did not respond to repeated requests for an interview and his lawyer declined to provide comment on behalf of his client.

Stephen Halmo, Kitchener

Background: On Feb. 23, 2011, an Ontario court made a finding of professional negligence against Halmo after a 28-year-old pregnant patient died from an aortic aneurysm. Halmo was designated as the “most responsible physician” caring for the woman, according to court records.

Response: In an email, Halmo’s lawyer wrote, “There was no criminal conviction, it was a civil matter, nor is there any restrictions on Dr. Halmo’s licence with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.”

Edward Istvan, Weston

Background: In May 2002, Istvan agreed to restrictions on his licence that limit him to assisting in surgery. He must notify the college should he wish to change that status. He must participate in an education program to reassume the primary surgeon role.

Response: Istvan did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.

Allan Jackiewicz, Niagara Falls

Background: In a November 2010 disciplinary ruling, Jackiewicz was prohibited from managing labours and deliveries — with the exception of performing C-sections — as either the “most responsible physician” or as a surgical assist. He is required to inform patients of this limitation. Jackiewicz was also required to “attend a program in communications” to be trained in “counselling, guided reflection, tailored feedback.” Jackiewicz practised under supervision for six months after the discipline order.

Response: Jackiewicz’s lawyer said in a phone interview he had passed on the request for comment to the physician, “who will follow up if he is interested in speaking.” His lawyer declined to provide additional comment on behalf of his client.

Sivasamboo Kalaichandran, Toronto

Background: Earlier this month, Kalaichandran signed an undertaking with the college following an investigation into whether he fell below the standard of practice of the profession. As a result of the investigation, Kalaichandran must not perform surgery or colposcopy. He must also complete a course in medical record keeping.

Response: Kalaichandran could not be reached for comment.

Sami Karkanis, Toronto

Background: In April 2010, a college discipline committee restricted Karkanis’ licence so that he may not treat female patients without a chaperone and must display a sign in his office specifying this limitation. He was required to complete a college ethics course on informed consent and boundary violations after dating a patient too soon after the end of the patient-doctor relationship. Karkanis now practices out of the country. His licence remains active and valid in Ontario.

Response: Karkanis declined to comment through his lawyer who also declined to provide comment.

Jevan Ko, Toronto

Background: According to the college registry, in January 2015 an Ontario court made a finding of professional negligence against Ko in respect to an incident that took place in January 2008.

Response: A receptionist at Ko’s practice said, “Dr. Ko would not like to give any comment. Thank you. Goodbye.”

Sharon Laval, Ottawa

Background: In February 2011, Laval agreed to restrict her licence and not engage in independent surgical practice, hospital OB/GYN practice or labour and delivery. She is allowed to practise at a teaching hospital under supervision and if not the “most responsible physician.” Laval is prohibited from performing several specific procedures.

Response: Laval did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Joseph Lee, North York

Background: In May 2011, the college disciplinary committee sanctioned Lee over allegations of patient sexual abuse in which he was accused of putting his mouth on a patient’s breast and mimicking oral sex during an examination. Lee is required to have a chaperone when treating female patients. He must display a sign noting this limitation in his office and provide the college access to his OHIP billings.

Response: Lee did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Naseem Malleck, Swift Current, SK

Background: In 2011, a Saskatchewan civil court finding was made against Malleck, who is licenced to practice in Ontario, for not identifying blood in the discharge of the patient’s catheter.

Response: Malleck responded in a written statement: “These events took place over 10 years ago and have no connection with Ontario . . . The court concluded that I was responsible for knowing the plaintiff’s condition even if the nurses failed to bring this condition to my attention. I remain committed to caring for my patients to the fullest extent possible.”

James Martin, London

Background: In May 2014, the college discipline committee placed 16 restrictions on Martin’s license. Among them: he must not accept new patients to his fertility clinic, not counsel patients regarding eating disorders, take educational and ethics training and is limited to only practicing reproductive endocrinology, a specialty dedicated to hormonal functioning. He is also prohibited from conducting fertility procedures “in any respect” and must answer to a supervisor and notify the college of every location he practices in.

Response: Martin exchanged over a dozen emails with Star/Ryerson reporters over several weeks, but specifically said he did not want to comment on record except to say, “I am not aware of any claim that my ethics of practice is substandard.”

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Roderick McDonagh, Hamilton

Background: In December 2011, an Ontario court made a finding of professional negligence against McDonagh in relation to a caesarean section delivery in which the mother alleged in a statement of claim that she suffered numerous injuries. A judge awarded her $45,000 in damages along with $9,000 for her spouse and $4,500 each for her two infant children. McDonagh is chief of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton.

Response: McDonagh did not respond to interview requests.

Stuart Millinoff, Windsor

Background: In June 2001, Millinoff agreed to a self-imposed undertaking with the college to restrict his practice to assisting in surgery only.

Response: Star/Ryerson reporters were unable to reach Millinoff for comment.

Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pembroke

Background: In February of this year, Mukherjee was found guilty of two counts of mischief and one count of uttering a threat by an Ontario court. He was granted a conditional discharge, required to pay a $600 fine and submit to a DNA test. Court-imposed restrictions — now removed from his CPSO public record — specified that, for a time, Mukherjee was prohibited from coming within 10 metres of an unspecified employee at the hospital where he has privileges.

Response: Mukherjee’s lawyer wrote in an email, “Dr. Mukherjee . . . has asked me to make it clear to you that he does not want to participate in any story the Toronto Star decides to run regarding his case. For him, the matter is over.”

Mendel Nadel, Toronto

Background: Nadel’s medical licence was restricted by the college in Sept. 2010. He is prohibited from seeing female patients without a female health professional chaperone. The college’s public register does not reveal why Nadel agreed to this restriction. Discipline records on his public file show he was found guilty of professional misconduct in 2003 for walking out on a patient mid-delivery.

Response: Nadel did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Nabil Namis, Guelph

Background: In May 2011, Namis was found guilty of professional misconduct. He was found by the college disciplinary committee to have altered the medical records of a patient who complained about how he had handled her case. He denied the allegation but a forensic examination of the medical records showed tampering.

Response: Namis said, through a receptionist at his office, that he had no comment.

Melanie Ornstein, Toronto

Background: A civil court found Ornstein liable for battery in 2012. She clipped a patient’s Fallopian tube without the patient’s consent during surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. The patient was left sterile. Damages were awarded at more than $180,000.

Response: Ornstein did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Alvin Pettle, Toronto

Background: In January 2010, Pettle entered into an undertaking with the college that required him to relinquish prescribing privileges with respect to narcotics. Records do not show why Pettle imposed this restriction on his own license.

Response: Pettle did not respond to repeated requests for interview and/or comment.

Christine Petyk Derzko, Toronto

Background: In May 2006, Petyk Derzko agreed to limit her practice to working in an office setting or to assisting in surgeries. The college’s public register does not state why.

Response: Petyk Derzko did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Peter Potts, Kitchener

Background: In August 2009, a civil finding was made against Potts. He was found to have fallen below the standard of care in attempting a forceps-assisted vaginal delivery a decade earlier. The baby sustained severe brain damage.

Response: Lawyers for Potts responded in an emailed statement, “Dr. Potts is an experienced, respected and caring obstetrician serving the province of Ontario . . . There was no criminal conviction, it was a civil matter. Also, there are no restrictions on Dr. Potts’ license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.”

Janice Ruggles, Pickering

Background: In September 2015, the College’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee referred the matter of Ruggles’ capacity to its “fitness to practise” committee. No details about what sparked the referral are listed on Ruggles’ public file.

Response: Ruggles could not be reached for comment.

Padamjit Singh, Oshawa

Background: In June 2013, a college disciplinary committee found Singh guilty of professional misconduct. It ruled that she could no longer deliver babies after deliveries that include crushing an infant’s skull and another where a newborn asphyxiated. Singh is also facing a medical malpractice lawsuit, involving a delivery in January 2009. The newborn baby girl suffered neurological impairment, say court records. In September, Singh admitted liability, admitting she breached the standard of care. She made an advance payment of $300,000 to the family.

Response: Singh declined requests for comment.

Karen Stillman, Ottawa

Background: In December 2013, Stillman struck a deal with the college in which she agreed not to perform certain surgical procedures. The college’s website does not reveal the reasons for this restriction on her licence.

Response: Stillman could not be reached for comment.

Sankar Vaidyanathan, Brampton

Background: Vaidyanathan has been involved in at least five civil lawsuits across two provinces and two disciplinary hearings since 1999. All civil suits involving Vaidyanathan were settled out of court on terms that are confidential. In 2001, after a series of stillbirths and an allegation that he had falsified records, he was ordered suspended for 24 months by a college disciplinary committee. However the college agreed to suspend 18 months of the suspension if Vaidyanathan attended counselling, took remedial classes and paid a fine to the college. In 2006, Vaidyanathan faced allegations from 39 patients claiming they received treatment that fell below the standard of care. The committee found him guilty in six of those cases. He is now restricted from performing surgical cosmetic procedures and acts as a surgical assistant only.

Response: Vaidyanathan and his lawyer did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.

Johan Viljoen, St. Catharines

Background: In February 2011, an Ontario Superior court made a finding of professional negligence against Viljoen. The Superior Court finding was appealed unsuccessfully by Viljoen in 2012. The finding of negligence stands on his record.

Response: Viljoen responded to a request for comment by email: “While the decision of the Court of Appeal dated Dec. 20, 2012, upheld the trial decision, on dissent, Justice Doherty decided that the action should have been dismissed.”

Peter Watt, Newmarket

Background: Watt is currently awaiting a disciplinary decision stemming from an allegation of patient sexual abuse in 2013. Watt is not practicing with any restrictions on his license.

Response: Watt did not respond to requests for comment, however his receptionist said in response to a phone call, “Dr. Watt has no comment, thank you” and his lawyer declined to comment on his behalf.

Muthulakshmi Yegappan, St. Catharines

Background: In October 2012, Yegappan entered into an undertaking with the college to cease practising except in her office-based practice and in her work as a surgical assistant to a college-approved primary physician. She is not permitted to perform obstetrical surgeries or deliveries. No reasons for the restriction are provided by the college.

Response: Yegappan did not respond to repeated requests for comment.