CPSO BIAS
CPSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN INTERNAL BIAS AGAINST DOCTORS WHO HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN THEIR FILE. THEY APPARENTLY FAIL TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GENUINE PATIENT COMPLAINTS AND 3RD PARTY COMPLAINTS THAT MAY BE MOTIVATED BY MALICE OR OTHER REASONS. DETAILS BELOW.
PHYSICIAN RISK SCORE - BIAS?
In 2018 CPSO began to develop a physician “risk score” based on the number of complaints received. This scoring system was due to be completed by end of 2018.
DOCTORS WITH 7 OR MORE COMPLAINTS
CPSO appears to view doctors with 7 or more complaints as “high risk”. They used a “complaints recidivism” research study to develop the physician risk scoring system. After repeated requests, they refuse to disclose a copy of the study!
CPSO WORRIES ABOUT THEIR IMAGE?
CPSO closely watches media stories that relate to them. They track the % of stories that paint them in a favorable light, are neutral, or paint them in a bad light. Why?
Internal CPSO Bias Against Doctors With Multiple Complaints
Based on an internal CPSO document (Interim Registrar’s Report, May 2018), it appears that CPSO has an institutional bias against doctors who have a history of multiple complaints. It also appears that the bias relates to number of complaints only (and is not dependent on the merits of those complaints, or who the complaints are from). We are not able to confirm with certainty because the CPSO refuses to release key documents that have been repeatedly requested!
What is crystal clear is that CPSO monitors and evaluates the media coverage they receive (to see if it is positive, neutral or negative). See pg. 31 of the 2018 Interim Registrar’s Report. They appear to be very concerned with public perception.
Could it be that CPSO understands there is a public perception that doctors with multiple complaints must be guilty of something? And if they DON’T openly punish those doctors (regardless of guilt/innocence) it will reinforce the public perception that they “protect their own” ?
If this is true, it could be the most logical explanation why they are hiding the key documents that would help answer these questions.
In May 2022, Dr. Khan began to ask CPSO lawyer Jessica Amey for disclosure of key documents related to the physician “risk score” that is discussed in the 2018 Interim Registrar’s Report. Dr. Khan requested these documents on the basis that they pertain to one of the CPSO cases against him. If the CPSO had an internal bias since 2018, as alleged by Dr. Khan, it could have a profound effect on the validity of the case against him.
Initially the CPSO lawyer Ms. Amey denied that any physician risk score ever existed.
This was contrary to the Briefing Note that stated that all items that were on the “to do” list for 2018 (“deliverables”) including the risk scoring system, would be done by then end of 2018 “unless specified”. See Pg. 16 of the 2018 Interim Registrar’s Report. Dr. Khan demanded official documents that explained why the risk score was not completed (if indeed it had been abandoned).
No documents were provided!
Dr. Khan further demanded a copy of a “complaints recidivism study” that we referred to in the Briefing Note that appeared to be the basis for the risk scoring system. See pg. 22 of the 2018 Interim Registrar’s Report.
At first the requests were ignored!
When Dr. Khan pressed further, Ms. Amey stated that the study was irrelevant. When pressed even further, the Discipline Tribunal Chair David Wright pretended that Dr. Khan made a motion to disclose the document, and he denied the motion. In fact no official written motion was ever made. (A motion is adjudicated by the Tribunal Chair after it is submitted in writing on a Form 5A, with supporting documents and case law. This was never done).
Dr. Khan only made a verbal request to Mr. Wright to remind the CPSO lawyers of their disclosure obligations and release a copy of the study.
The Tribunal Chair Mr. David Wright invented a motion that was never submitted by Dr. Khan, and denied the non-existent motion!
This raises another question: why is the Tribunal Chair trying to protect the CPSO by blocking disclosure of this key document?
We continue to demand answers and demand accountability to the public from the CPSO and the Discipline Tribunal!
Are you are as deeply concerned about these events as we are?
Do you want to help us with our goal of demanding accountability?
