Veteran doc retires following college order

Sudbury physician Dr. Douglas Arthur Prince is closing his practice after a decision in November by a College of Physicians and Surgeons committee to impose restrictions on his medical licence.

“It is with great regret, due to circumstances beyond my control, that I have had to retire and close my family practice,” Prince wrote in a Northern Life ad appearing in the Jan. 19 paper.

“I wish to thank all my patients who have been loyal to me for 49 years of practice. I will truly miss them.”

According to the Nov. 17 decision by the college's quality assurance committee, Prince, who practised out of an office on Larch Street, was no longer allowed to treat new patients.

He was also required, within 30 days of the order, “to obtain a clinical supervisor who is acceptable to the college. The clinical supervisor must review all of Dr. Prince's charts from all practice locations within 24 hours of the patient encounter and approve of the proposed treatment, and each patient chart must include a record of the clinical supervisor's approval of the proposed treatment.”

The order also said if Prince was unable to obtain a clinical supervisor, he must cease practising medicine immediately until he has obtained a clinical supervisor.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons does not indicate on its website why these orders were imposed on Prince, who had been practising medicine since 1963.

Patients who wish to retrieve their medical files from Prince are asked to contact Ontario Document Storage after Feb. 1 by visiting www.odstorage.com, phoning 705-560-8461 or faxing 705-560-4637.

Posted by Arron Pickard