Sudbury doctor facing second disciplinary hearing

A Sudbury physician is facing a second disciplinary hearing in front of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Ontario to answer allegations she continued to practise medicine while she was serving a suspension imposed in April.

Dr. Swaran Kaur Syan was sanctioned by the College following a hearing held April 14, Northern Life has learned.

The Discipline Committee found that Syan committed an act “of professional misconduct in that she failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession in respect of her care and treatment of 20 patients,” says the ruling found on the college's website. “Dr. Syan admitted to the allegation.”

The allegations arose from an investigation sparked by complaints from two of Syan’s patients. Those complaints led to a broader investigation, that concluded her record-keeping was substandard.

“With regard to record-keeping, for example: Dr. Syan’s handwritten progress notes were difficult to read and sometimes illegible,” the College says. “It was difficult to identify patients’ subjective concerns, patient history, physical findings, diagnoses, treatment plans, and what medications were being refilled.

“There was no accurate list of current medications for patients, including duration and dosages, and a review of lab, specialist and hospital reports revealed a number of diagnoses not documented on Dr. Syan’s charts.”

The investigation also found Syan failed to monitor side-effect of medications she was prescribing, “and narcotics and benzodiazepines were prescribed with no clear diagnosis.” She also enrolled patients in clinical research studies when they didn't meet the criteria for those studies.

In one complaint from a patient who had injured his elbow, Syan didn't order an X-ray. He went to another doctor who discovered he had a fracture “for which he required surgery.”

She was suspended from seeing patients for two months in April, and was banned from participating in clinical trials. The College put in place a number of requirements for Syan to follow before her standing would be restored. For example, she could only practice in a group setting with other doctors, under the supervision of physician approved by the College.

Restrictions on the number of patients she could see each week was also imposed, and she was directed to take courses on how to keep proper records. The college laid out a lengthy, four-step “remediation program” for her to return to work.

However, Syan is now accused of ignoring her two-month penalty imposed in April by practising medicine in May. She faces another as yet unscheduled disciplinary hearing with the College.