CPSA COMMITS CRIME AGAINST ALBERTANS

Douglas L. Anderson, MD., FRCS(C) is the owner of this Blog Site.  Dr. Anderson is a
retired eye Surgeon, having conducted his surgery in Edmonton Alberta  Canada for
over 30 years before retirement.

COMMENTS FROM VISITORS TO THIS BLOG SITE ARE WELCOMED
FOR A BALANCED DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES RAISED.

THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS OF ALBERTA (CPSA)
PROTECTS ITS MEDICAL DOCTOR MEMBERS AT THE EXPENSE OF
PROTECTING ALBERTANS

There has been a shocking failure in self-regulation by the CPSA. 
Proof of failure of College Staff Employees and their employers (the Councilors of the CPSA), is shown clearly on the six reasons recorded by the CPSA for closing patient complaint file # 060421.1.4
Each of these reasons was severely flawed and the complete investigation of this complaint showed unbelievable incompetence.

WHO ARE THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THIS EXTREMELY INCOMPETENT INVESTIGATION SHOWING CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE?

All of the following are guilty of gross incompetence which, if repeated, could endanger patients lives again, and therefore should be considered SPSA CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE:
Drs: J. Ritchie, K. Mazurek, T. Theman, J. Bell & H. Woytiuk.

Involvement of DR. JOHN RITCHIE (Complaint Investigator)

1. Dr. Ritchie failed to include in the preparation of his Investigation Report important information that Dr. Anderson included in his submissions.
2. Dr. Ritchie failed to contact Dr. Anderson for clarification on any of the materials that Dr. Anderson submitted for this investigation.
Ref: Letter MS. S. Barron - Manager, Complaints - to Dr. Anderson dated Feb. 23/07 - "Should additional information or clarification be necessary concerning your documentation, Dr. Ritchie will contact you directly".
3. The Investigation Report showed numerous errors & omissions that could have been avoided if clarification had been obtained.

Involvement of DR. KAREN MAZUREK (Resolver of Investigation Report)

1. Letter from Ms. S. Barron to Dr. D. Anderson dated Feb. 23/07 - "Upon completion of the review, an Investigation Report will be forwarded to Dr. Karen Mazurek, Assistant Registrar for resolution".
2. Dr. K. Mazurek failed to recognize the errors & omissions in the Investigative Report delivered to her from Dr. J. Ritchie.
3. Dr. K. Mazurek submitted, with the Investigation Report six reasons why Patient Complaint File # 060421.1.4 was closed. Each of these reasons is severely flawed and reason # 1 contains a lie which is an assault to Dr. D. Anderson's professional reputation.

Involvement of DR. HARVEY WOYTIUK (Investigation Chairman-the CPSA Councilor who closed File # 060421.1.4 (Dr. T. Theman concealed the identity of this chairman from Dr. D. Anderson until his letter dated Oct. 10, 2010)

1. Dr. D. Anderson sent a letter to this Investigation Chairman dated Apr. 10/07 which stated in part -
" Conclusion - The above analysis shows clearly that Dr. Anderson did not make the allegations that the College accuses him of making in Reason # 1 for closing File # 060421.1.
Question - From the submissions that I sent to the College, why did the College investigators (and you as Investigation Chairman whose decision it was to close the file), not see clearly that I made no such allegation.  Why, if there was any doubt, did the College not contact me for clarification before closing File # 060421.1.4?  I require answers to the questions presented in this letter as soon as possible"
(Dr. D. Anderson has yet to receive any communication from Dr. H. Woytiuk).
2. Dr. H. Woytiuk failed to recognize the errors & omissions in the Investigation Report delivered to him from Drs. J. Ritchie & K, Mazurek.  Dr. Woytiuk failed to contact Dr. D. Anderson for clarification before closing the file.

Involvement of DR. TREVOR THEMAN (Registrar of CPSA)

1. Dr. D. Anderson has accused the employee pyramid of CPSA of submitting lies to justify the closing of Patient File # 060421.1.4
2. Dr. D. Anderson has asked Dr. T. Theman to investigate these lies and take appropriate action.
3. Dr. T. Theman has not refuted Dr. D. Anderson's accusations & therefore must agree with them.
4. With this accusation, it would be most inappropriate for Dr. D. Anderson to discuss this serious problem with any college employee other than the registrar.
5. Although Dr. D. Anderson requested a meeting with Dr. T. Theman (Registrar) Dr. Theman has refused to meet or have any further correspondence with Dr. Anderson.
6. Dr. T. Theman repeatedly urges Dr. D. Anderson to APPEAL if Dr. Anderson is dissatisfied.

It is most inappropriate for Dr. Theman to insist that Dr. Anderson meet with Dr. Mazurek instead of himself, as Dr. Anderson has accused the senior medical staff of the CPSA of submitting lies.
Dr. Theman is wrong when he states "To involve council directly is inappropriate". Dr. Anderson has tried to involve council to address lies of the College staff.

Dr. Theman insists that the three councilors who form the Appeal Board have no useful knowledge of the case being appealed prior to the appeal. Dr. Theman is wrong as he knows that Dr. Anderson has informed all councilors of the CPSA of all details of this case in three mailings
(Apr. 23/07, May 17/07, Jan. 9/08)

A just hearing of these serious errors committed by CPSA must be conducted by  others completely separate from the CPSA and not from within, by three Councilors of the CPSA.

In a letter from Dr. T. Theman to Dr. D. Anderson dated Jan. 25/08 the following appears- " To involve Council directly, and not in its role as an appeal body, is inappropriate. No member has judged your complaint, as no member of Council (except the Investigation Chair) has seen the complaint or any of the associated materials. The Complaints Appeals Committee is made up of three members of Council who would have reviewed the materials of your appeal for the first time.
They would have independently reviewed all the materials in the investigation in hearing your appeal".

In a letter from Dr. D. Anderson to Dr. T. Theman dated Jan. 31/08 the following appears- " In your letter to me dated Jan 25/08 you suggest that I meet with Dr. Mazurek. It would
 be most inappropriate for me to meet with Dr. K. Mazurek to discuss my accusations against senior college employees who submitted lies to justify the closing of Patient Complaint File # 060421.1.4

The Council of the CPSA IS INVOLVED with my accusations against the Council and the College staff.  I have made the Council involved by the following correspondence:
1. My three letters to all Council Members (Apr. 23/07, May 17/07, Jan. 9/08) in which all details of the patient's history were revealed.
2. Dr. James Bell's letter to me (President of Council) dated Apr. 25/07 in which he states- 'Further communication with me with regards to this issue is not only inappropriate, but it also is putting me in a position of bias at such time an appeal does come before our Council'.
3. My letter to the 'Investigation Chairman' (whose identity the College has concealed from me)
dated Apr. 10/07 and sent in care of Dr. James Bell. This letter outlines in detail how the College allegations against my complaints are completely false.

You state to involve Council directly, and not in its role as an appeal body, is inappropriate.  The Council is entrusted to oversee the performance of the College staff (including the Registrar). When the College staff submits lies in a patient complaint investigation (if the Registrar refuses to investigate these lies) it is the Councils responsibility to the public, to take immediate action.

I have not involved the Council in its role as an appeal body (although there are solid grounds for a medical malpractice suit).  I have involved the Council in its role to oversee unjust performance by the College staff. My accusations are against the College Staff and College Council.

I welcome a HEARING of my complaints against the CPSA. In order for this hearing to be INDEPENDENT & JUST it must be held before individuals who are completely independent of the College who would judge without bias".

In a letter from Dr. T. Theman to Dr. D. Anderson dated Feb.1/08 the following appears-
"To be clear I will not meet with you.   You have rejected a very reasonable offer to meet with
Dr. Mazurek. To clarify further, you do not make the rules.  The rules are laid out in legislation, regulation and bylaws of this College. This will be my last correspondence with you".

Involvement of DR. JAMES BELL (President of Council of CPSA)

At the time Patient Complaint File # 060421.1.4 was closed, Dr. James Bell was the President of the Council of the CPSA. Dr. D. Anderson sent three letters to Dr. Bell (Mar. 12/07, Apr. 10/07,
Apr. 16/07) explaining the serious unjust & incompetent performance of the Medical Staff Employees of the CPSA. Unfortunately Dr. Bell ignored these letters.

On April 20/07 Dr. Anderson sent the following Fax Transmission to Dr. J. Bell- " Re: Closure of Patient Complaint File # 060421.1.4   It is important that you & I have a private meeting.  Part of the employee pyramid of the CPSA has assaulted the Mandate of the College.  I will not stand for this assault & neither should you nor any other member of the Council. I must have a private meeting with you as soon as possible in order to minimize negative public opinion of the Medical Profession and those who 'Guide' the Medical Profession. PLEASE CONTACT ME NOW".

Dr. L. Bell's one & only communication with Dr. D. Anderson was his letter dated Apr. 25/07 which follows- I am in receipt of the correspondence that you sent me with regards to the complaint investigation and the investigation chairman's decision.  I am afraid I must agree with Dr. Mazurek's letter that the appropriate channel for you to be taking this is not to me as president, but through the appeal process that is available to you through our complaints department.  If you have concerns specifically about Dr. Mazurek's handling of the situation, I would suffest you direct those concerns to the Registrar as Dr. Mazurek is responsible directly to the Registrar and only through the Registrar to Council.  Further communication to me with regards to this issue is not only inappropriate, but it also is putting me in a position of bias at such time an appeal does come before our Council".

Dr. Bell had been fully informed of all details on the invovled patient's history in the three letters that Dr. D. Anderson sent to all Councilors.  Dr. J. Bell fails to understand that complaints against serious wrongdoing by Medical Staff Employees of CPSA must be addressed directly by Councilors and not screened through employees of the CPSA.

The next Blog Posting will appear in the near future and will detail the severely flawed six reasons that the CPSA submitted for closing Patient Complaint File # 060421.1.4

This Blog Posting- "CPSA COMMITS CRIME AGAINST ALBERTANS" is being sent to the following individuals:

Dr. T. Theman (Registrar CPSA) - Registered Mail
Drs: J. Ritchie, K. Mazurek, J. Bell, H. Woytiuk
Drs: J. Cowell, A. Fields, L. Tyrrell
Premier A. Redford, Hon. D. Hancock, Hon. F. Horne
Drs: M. Giuffre, L. Maybaum, J. Parmar, S. Corbett, M. CampbellL. L.Steele
Danielle Smith, Raj Sherman, Brian Mason
News Media: Lucinda Chodan, Lorne Gunter, Rick Bell, Lorne Motley

COMMENTS FROM VISITORS TO THIS BLOG SITE ARE WELCOMED
FOR A BALANCED DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES RAISED