‘Potential for harm’: Ontario pediatrician disposed of colleague’s patient records, gave false info during hospital investigation

An Ontario doctor who disposed of patient records from a colleague’s bag has been suspended for two months and ordered to pay $6,000 in investigation and hearing costs. Dr. Moyez Bahadurali Amarshi Mawji Ladhani, a Hamilton pediatrician, was found guilty by the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal of taking a colleague’s bag and disposing of some of its contents, including patient medical records. Dr. Ladhani also provided false information to his colleague—Dr. X (named ‘X’ to protect their identity)—and to hospital security during the investigation. “While there is no evidence of actual harm, the potential for harm was significant given the importance of medical records in patient care,” the tribunal wrote. “Their destruction could have caused gaps in communication and continuity of care.”The incident occured in 2019, when Dr. Ladhani and Dr. X attended a monthly department meeting of the McMaster University Medical Centre, where Dr. Ladhani took his colleague’s bag and its contents without permission from the other doctor. According to the record, Dr. Ladhani deposited approximately 250 to 400 pages of his colleague’s documents, including patient medical records, in a locked shredding bin. Dr. Ladhani took a voluntary leave of absence from clinical and academic duties following the incidents, and his application to renew his privileges was denied in 2021. “Disposing of the patient records from Dr. X’s bag medical records by placing them in a locked shredding bin is contrary to the College’s Policy, Medical Records (2012) which requires, among other things, that a physician not dispose of records until the obligation to retain them has ended,” wrote the tribunal. Dr. Ladhani initially denied taking the bag and did not admit to it until he was informed of a surveillance video that security had. The tribunal found no evidence of an “acrimonious relationship” between Dr. Ladhani and his colleague, and also found no evidence that Dr. Ladhani planned to view the medical records for inproper use. It also concluded that Dr. Ladhani’s behaviour was an incident of “situational atypical stealing,” based on a psychiatric assessment, and found that the risk of him stealing in the future is very low.Along with a $6,000 penalty and two-month suspension, Dr. Ladhani was also ordered to take individualized instruction in medical ethics and professionalism, with an instructor approved by the College, at his own expense.“The reprimand serves the penalty goals of specific and general deterrence as well as denunciates the misconduct,” wrote the tribunal. “It sends the message that disruptive conduct in the workplace, including the improper mishandling of medical records, constitutes serious professional misconduct.”

‘Potential for harm’: Ontario pediatrician disposed of colleague’s patient records, gave false info during hospital investigation

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