DISCIPLINE SUMMARIES
c) y unreasonably delaying Patient A’s access to methab
done treatment, of which she was in urgent need.
Agreed Statement of Facts on Penalty
Additional facts were established in an Agreed Statement of Facts on Penalty:
1. r. Varenbut intends to stop his methadone practice
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and to focus his attention on other administrative
and professional responsibilities. He has already
started to transfer his MMT patients to other physicians.
2. ince the time of Patient A’s involvement with Dr.
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Varenbut and the OATC clinics, the following
changes have been implemented:
a) n Involuntary Discharge Policy which details
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the protocol to be followed when terminating a
MMT patient has been implemented at all OATC
clinics; and
b) e OATC has a “Best Practice Committee”
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comprised of five OATC physicians, a clinical case
manager, clinic nurses and other ad hoc members of the team. A dedicated subcommittee of
the Best Practice Committee, the “Involuntary
Discharge Committee”, has been formed which
collaborates on any decision to discharge a patient
involuntarily from OATC.
3. ince September 2011, the Ontario Ministry of
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Health and Long-Term Care has implemented a
policy that prohibits billing for urine testing where a
patient has not been seen by a physician at least once
per month.
4. n 2008, an assessment of Dr. Varenbut’s MMT
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practice based on a review of his care of 15 patients
was conducted for the College’s Methadone Committee. The Committee concluded that his care of these
patients complied with the MMT Guidelines.
Reasons for Penalty
Counsel for the College and counsel for the member
made a joint submission as to an appropriate penalty
and costs order. It was jointly proposed that Dr. Varenbut be reprimanded by the Committee and that he pay
costs in the amount of $14,600, which is the tariff cost
of f