Post by litigator on May 23, 2007 6:55:39 GMT -5
College fines psychiatrist who testified in 2 trials
By KEVIN CONNOR, SUN MEDIA
A Toronto psychiatrist was found guilty of two counts of professional misconduct yesterday by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for lying about his credentials during a criminal and a civil trial.
Dr. Joel Whitton admitted to padding his resume at two trials in 1996, but it didn't result in anyone going to jail.
"He did make a number of errors stating his qualifications," Whitton's lawyer, Roy Stephenson, said.
"He is extremely sorry for these errors and won't testify again in any criminal or civil proceedings."
The college heard that Whitton was in a "state of emotional turmoil" at the time he misrepresented himself because his wife had breast cancer.
The college agreed to a joint submission that will suspend his registration for 30 days, require him to appear before the college to be reprimanded and have him pay $2,500 for the cost of the hearing.
"We need to discourage other members from the same misconduct and protect the public," Carolyn Silver, the prosecuting lawyer, said.
When doctors lie on the stand it can have devastating consequences.
In 2005, Ontario's chief coroner launched a public inquiry into Toronto pathologist Dr. Charles Smith for his handling of autopsies in the suspicious deaths of 40 children that led to convictions.
In one case, Smith testified that a young girl had been stabbed to death, while later investigations showed she was mauled by a dog. The girl's mother -- who is suing Smith -- spent a decade in prison because of his testimony.
An international panel reviewing Smith's cases dating back to 1991 found 13 convictions where there were errors in the pathologist's evidence
By KEVIN CONNOR, SUN MEDIA
A Toronto psychiatrist was found guilty of two counts of professional misconduct yesterday by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for lying about his credentials during a criminal and a civil trial.
Dr. Joel Whitton admitted to padding his resume at two trials in 1996, but it didn't result in anyone going to jail.
"He did make a number of errors stating his qualifications," Whitton's lawyer, Roy Stephenson, said.
"He is extremely sorry for these errors and won't testify again in any criminal or civil proceedings."
The college heard that Whitton was in a "state of emotional turmoil" at the time he misrepresented himself because his wife had breast cancer.
The college agreed to a joint submission that will suspend his registration for 30 days, require him to appear before the college to be reprimanded and have him pay $2,500 for the cost of the hearing.
"We need to discourage other members from the same misconduct and protect the public," Carolyn Silver, the prosecuting lawyer, said.
When doctors lie on the stand it can have devastating consequences.
In 2005, Ontario's chief coroner launched a public inquiry into Toronto pathologist Dr. Charles Smith for his handling of autopsies in the suspicious deaths of 40 children that led to convictions.
In one case, Smith testified that a young girl had been stabbed to death, while later investigations showed she was mauled by a dog. The girl's mother -- who is suing Smith -- spent a decade in prison because of his testimony.
An international panel reviewing Smith's cases dating back to 1991 found 13 convictions where there were errors in the pathologist's evidence