Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Toronto psychiatrist fined for misconduct

Essentially, he had claimed false credentials. As reported in the Toronto Star.

Toronto psychiatrist Dr. Joel Whitton was slapped with a $2500 fine and a 30-day suspension Tuesday, after a disciplinary committee found he committed two acts of professional misconduct during a “state of emotional turmoil.”

Whitton, who regularly testified as an expert legal witness, appeared in court twice - in 1997 at a criminal case as a defence witness, and in 1998 during a civil case - after his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“His mind was not where it should have been,” said defence counsel Roy Stephenson.

Whitton appeared before a panel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario on Tuesday morning, where his legal counsel and a college prosecutor agreed on all submitted facts and on an official reprimand.

“Your dishonest actions reflect on all members of the college,” said Dr. Melinda Davie, chair of the disciplinary committee.

A police investigation in 1998 charged Whitton with perjury, but proceedings were stayed when he agreed to never again testify as a legal witness.

Whitton had submitted an out of date resume to court, saying he was still a professor at the University of Toronto and a staff member at a Toronto hospital when he was no longer employed by either. Whitton's wife, who was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, was also his office manager.

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