Calls grow to stop doctors telling COVID lies

College sanctioning more physicians accused of peddling falsehoods

There are growing calls for Ontario to do more to rein in rogue physicians working against public health protocols and spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

“It’s tremendously problematic,” said Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy and initiator of #ScienceUpFirst, a group of Canadian scientists and health professionals debunking false COVID-19 information.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario announced Tuesday that another Ontario doctor is facing sanctions for allegedly peddling “misleading, incorrect or inflammatory statements” on social media.

Dr. Patrick Phillips, of Englehart in northern Ontario, is barred from providing exemptions for COVID-19 tests, vaccines and face masks. He is also prohibited from prescribing ivermectin, fluvoxamine and atorvastin — drugs that are unproven for the coronavirus and potentially dangerous.

Another physician in Richmond Hill is also being investigated after reportedly spreading misinformation and dispensing invalid vaccine exemptions.

Hundreds of people lined up at York Medical Clinic Sept. 18, reportedly to purchase vaccine exemptions from Dr. Christopher Hassell, who posted online that he is now on a voluntary leave of absence.

This year, Brampton pediatrician Dr. Kulvinder Gill, received multiple cautions from the college earlier this year for “irresponsible” and “misleading” anti-lockdown, anti-vaccination comments on social media.

Signing or issuing documents that are false or misleading is an act of professional misconduct, said David Jensen, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health.

“There are a number of deterrents in place and those who try to game the system do so at their own risk,” Jensen said.

“Individuals providing inaccurate or falsified information to a business can result in penalties up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail. Health-care professionals could also lose their licence.”

Dr. Adam Kassam, president of the 43,000-member Ontario Medical Association, urged the public to focus on doctors working hard on the front lines.

“The public should know that their doctors are not only talking the talk, they’re walking the walk or leading by example. They’re serving their communities, they have been in the ICU, in the emergency department, treating patients with COVID and non-COVID-related patients,” Kassam said.

“We can focus on a small number, or we can focus on 98 per cent of doctors who are fully vaccinated,” he said. “I have not spoken to a single doctor in my time as president and president-elect that has been antivaccine or not vaccinated.”

That’s not enough, Caulfield said. “These fringe individuals are loud and they can really do harm … They can have an outsized impact on both public discourse and the polarization of the debate.”

He said the College should take on more of a public education role, explaining there are few valid exemptions to the vaccine, and what they are.

“And I do think we need to see the regulator take clear and definitive action against these physicians.”

He applauded the College for guiding doctors to use caution in how they talk about COVID-19 and vaccines, “but I think they need to take regulatory steps when a member is spreading misinformation or something that’s contrary to

“These fringe individuals are loud and they can really do harm.” TIMOTHY CAULFIELD #SCIENCEUPFIRST

the appropriate standard of care.”

“This kind of situation is exactly why the College of Physicians and Surgeons exists.”

At the same time, Caulfield said, provinces should provide better leadership, explaining why vaccine passports exist, and rolling out robust and clear processes to ensure exemptions are legitimate “so we’re not relying on a person working the door at a restaurant.”

“The message is to continue to listen to the public health experts and continue to listen to the physicians who have been from the outset of this pandemic advocating for the health and well-being of patients and communities,” Kassam said.

“Please go get vaccinated. They’re safe, they’re effective and they’re the best way to mitigate the spread of the disease to stamp out this fourth wave and ultimately get back to a normal that we all desperately want.”