Pubdate: Tue, 18 Mar 2014
Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014, The Belleville Intelligencer
Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/letters
Website: http://www.intelligencer.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332
Author: Jason Miller

POT DOC FACES NEW RESTRICTIONS

Ontario's physician watchdog has levied further restrictions against 
a Coe Hill doctor amidst the beginning of a Belleville court's 
preliminary inquiry into his involvement with medical marijuana prescriptions.

On Feb. 25, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario imposed 
further limitations on the certificate of registration held by Dr. 
Rob Kamermans.

The new set of reprimands include barring him from "practising 
medicine in an emergency room setting," college files show.

After the conclusion of the preliminary hearing into the criminal 
case against him, Kamermans will once again have to answer to the 
college on March 27.

Kamermans was charged August 2012 in relation to fraudulent 
endorsements of medical marijuana declaration forms in Ontario, Nova 
Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and British Columbia between January 
2011 and April 2012.

The criminal case just reached the preliminary hearing stage in which 
a judge will rule if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.

Since last year, Kamermans has been hit with a number of licence 
restrictions by the college, limiting his ability to practise 
medicine in Ontario. He has already been banned from any involvement 
with prescribing, dispensing or administering cannabis.

College officials confirmed Monday the March hearing is to set 
disciplinary hearing dates in June and July to press ahead with 
further allegations against Kamermans.

"The latest referral (for discipline) begins March 27 with a motion," 
said Kathryn Clarke, a spokesperson for the college. "This is a 
different set of allegations. The first two have been dealt with. The 
actual hearing on the merits of the allegation begins June 2." It is 
now alleged Kamermans was incompetent or failed to maintain the 
standard of practice of the profession in his care of 31 patients.

He's being blamed for falsifying records relating to his practice and 
accused of signing or issuing, in his professional capacity, 
documents that he knew, or ought to have known, were false or misleading.

Kamermans is also being investigated for failure to maintain the 
standard of care of patients as a physician practising in an emergency room.
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