Nigerian doctor suspended for three months by Canadian tribunal for getting intimate with work colleague

NIGERIAN medical doctor Efe Ovueni has been suspended by Canada's College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Tribunal for getting intimate with his colleague during the course of his work.

Apparently, Dr Ovueni has been suspended for three months over unprofessional conduct for hugging and blowing a kisses at his co-worker without her consent. He was also fined $3,000 and is liable for the undisclosed costs of the hearing and investigation.

In addition to the fine and suspension which takes immediate effect, Dr Ovueni has been banned from medical practice for over 90 days. His suspension was announced on Thursday following a hearing by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta tribunal

Dr Ovueni was found to have committed the offence on January 21, 2020. During the hearing, the doctor admitted his unprofessional conduct and promised to turn a new leaf going forward.

A tribunal spokesman said: “Ovueni’s practice permit shall be suspended for a period of three months, with two weeks to be served on dates acceptable to the Complaints Director and completed within six months of the date the hearing tribunal issues. Its written decision and 2.5 months held in abeyance on the condition that no further boundary concerns come to the attention of the complaints director and are referred to an investigation for a period of five years after the date the hearing tribunal issues its written decision.”

In addition, the tribunal  said that the doctor’s actions did not meet the criteria for sexual misconduct under the Health Professions Act since the victim was a member of staff and not a patient “Rather, this was a case of a boundary violation between a physician and a co-worker, demonstrating unprofessional conduct that was wholly unacceptable,” the tribunal’s report added.

It added: “If further boundary concerns come to the attention of the complaints director and are referred to an investigation within five years from the date the hearing tribunal issues its written decision, the complaints director shall be at liberty to impose the remaining 2.5 months suspension on Dr Ovueni’s practice permit. If no further boundary concerns come to the attention of the complaints director and are referred to an investigation within five years from the date the hearing tribunal issues its written decision, the remaining 2.5 month suspension shall expire.”