Regina doctor facing unprofessional conduct charge

SASKATOON Dr. Oluwatomi (Tomi) Mitchell, a Regina-based family doctor practising out of the Pasqua South Medical Centre, was in Saskatoon Friday facing professional misconduct proceedings at the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons.

She was charged with “unprofessional conduct in relation to an alleged failure to respond, or respond adequately, to communications from the College,” in connection with alleged concerns about the over-prescribing of opioids.

During the hearing, Mitchell, through a defence lawyer, acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the charges of failing to respond to the College’s inquiries and, when she did respond, not providing all the information that had been requested.

The issue relating to Mitchell’s prescribing of opioids was resolved by the College’s executive committee prior to the hearing. The committee who approved a resolution in which Mitchell agreed to stop prescribing opioids until she completes additional training and gains approval from the registrar.

In previous cases where doctors faced similar misconduct charges, the doctors were ordered to pay a fine of $1,500.

Mitchell’s defence lawyer said her failure to provide the required documents was not due to a “lack of respect” for the College or a failure to note the seriousness of the request. Instead, he argued it was an unfortunate consequence of difficulties in her personal life throughout 2017, including numerous hospitalizations due to complications with a pregnancy, court proceedings with a former spouse, an additional hospitalization after a car crash and then the demands she faced as the mother of a newborn.

He also stated that these were not excuses, simply context for what Mitchell was facing when requests for the specific documents were made.

Though the final decision on what disciplinary actions Mitchell faced were not yet available at press time, her lawyer and the registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons made a joint submission suggesting imposing the $1,500 fine.