A Chatham eye doctor has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
During a hearing on Monday, the college's disciplinary committee suspended Dr. Christopher Anjema's licence to practice for four months for failing to maintain a required professional standard of practice. The suspension will begin July 1, 2021 and his practice will be reassessed after the suspension ends. He must also cooperate with unannounced inspections.
Dr. Anjema has been under investigation by the college since May 18, 2018, amid allegations of disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct. In an agreed statement of facts he admitted that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession but pleaded no contest that he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct regarding the over-billing of OHIP and lack of proper patient care. The college withdrew a charge of incompetence during the hearing.
Anjema's professional troubles began in 2013 when he failed to diagnose one of his patients with glaucoma before cataract surgery. That patient eventually lost his vision and is now legally blind. The college said that showed a lack of knowledge and had to previously order a surgical review of Anjema's practice. He was also criticized for a lack of proper record-keeping and over-billing OHIP after an investigation discovered inaccurate and incomplete records. Anjema billed OHIP for $545,000 in medical claims between 2007 and 2013 and has since reimbursed the ministry for some of the unnecessary claims. He also had to complete extra medical training during his lengthy ordeal, and was under supervision for a year.
The lawyer representing the college, Morgana Kellythorne, said Anjema's practice had a wide array of repeated deficiencies, which included unnecessary testing and treatments.
"The expectation must be that physicians fully remediate deficiencies in their practice when first given the opportunity to do so and Dr. Anjema did not do so," said Kellythorne.
Anjema's lawyer Neil Perrier said Anjema was confused about the OHIP billing and made a mistake by using the wrong codes but made changes when he was notified of the error. Perrier also told the hearing that Anjema is very sorry about one of his patients losing his eye sight.
"Dr. Anjema would tell you, if he could, that he's very upset with himself and very sad that 'Patient A' lost his vision and admits that it's bothered him every day since it happened," said Perrier.
Disciplinary Committee Chair Pierre Giroux said the committee is profoundly disappointed with Anjema because he should have known better.
"It seems to this committee that you put your own interests ahead of your patients," said Giroux. "The committee is heartened to see that you've begun to make changes and even though the changes are commendable they should not have been necessary in the first place. The college must protect the public sending a clear message to the profession that your misconduct is unacceptable," said Giroux.
Giroux also said the penalty sends a strong message to the entire industry that this type of behaviour is not acceptable.
Anjema also has to pay the college's $10,370 cost of the disciplinary proceeding within 30 days and must report all of his clinic locations to the college.
In a Facebook post after the hearing, Anjema said he takes responsibility for what happens in his practice and he is completely committed to meeting and exceeding the college’s standards going forward. He also pointed out that he has taken steps to improve his practice and a college appointed clinical supervisor has deemed that his practice meets or exceeds the required standard of practice.
"I’ve always tried to be the best doctor I can be no matter what. I understand the important work of the College in striving to protect the public and to maintain the integrity of the medical profession. I’m sorry to say that they have found that I did not always meet College standards during the period they studied through 2011-2016. So, I’m being disciplined accordingly. I accept what has happened and I am accountable for the outcome," said Anjema.
He said the Anjema Eye Institute will remain open while he is away and will operate with two ophthalmologists until he returns in November.
Dr. Anjema has no prior history of medical discipline.