CPSO "records expert":Dr.HOWARD WU found to be "incompetent"

Dr. Howard Wu, Markham. On April 29, 2013, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Wu is incompetent and committed acts of professional misconduct in that, he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession and he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct. Dr. Wu is a family physician practising in Markham. As a result of five investigations into his practice, allegations were referred to the Discipline Committee on July 6, 2011 and September 5, 2012. On July 27, 2011, Dr. Wu signed an Undertaking not to prescribe narcotics or other controlled substances, subject to the engagement of a College-approved clinical supervisor. Following an investigation into Dr. Wu's compliance with the Undertaking, an additional allegation of disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct by breaching his Undertaking was referred to the Discipline Committee on April 4, 2013. Dr. Wu admitted that he: failed to maintain the standard of practice and is incompetent in his chronic pain practice in relation to patient charts as detailed in the reports of the medical assessors. failed to maintain the standard of practice in his family practice in relation to patient charts, as detailed in the report of a medical assessor. failed to maintain the standard of practice and engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct with respect to his delegation of controlled acts in relation to patient charts as detailed in the report of a medical assessor. engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct by breaching his Undertaking as follows: a) by issuing a prescription for Testosterone on August 10, 2011, before engaging a clinical supervisor acceptable to the College; b) between June 2012 until October/November 2012, by failing to ensure his clinical supervisor co-signed patient charts to indicate he approved of the prescription for each and every restricted substance prescription issued by Dr. Wu; c) by failing to ensure the charts co-signed by his clinical supervisor for two patients on December 4, 2012, accurately reflected the prescriptions issued to the patients; and d) by failing to include required information in his log pertaining to prescriptions for restricted substances in relation to five patients. The Discipline Committee ordered a public reprimand and a six-month suspension of Dr. Wu's certificate of registration commencing June 1, 2013. The Committee also ordered that the following restrictions be imposed on his certificate of registration: i. Dr. Wu shall not issue new prescriptions or renew existing prescriptions for Narcotic Drugs; Narcotic Preparations; Controlled Drugs; and Benzodiazepines/Other Targeted Substances. ii. Dr. Wu shall post a clearly visible sign in his waiting room that shall state as follows: "Dr. Wu cannot prescribe Narcotic Drugs, Narcotic Preparations, Controlled Drugs, Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances." A sign reflecting this restriction will also be posted in Chinese. iii. Dr. Wu shall not delegate to any other person any controlled act as that term is defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. iv. Approximately one month after the completion of the suspension of Dr. Wu’s certificate of registration, he shall undergo an assessment of his family practice by College-appointed assessor(s) at his expense. The assessor(s) shall report the results of the assessment to the College. Dr. Wu shall abide by any recommendations of the assessor(s). v. Dr. Wu shall consent to the sharing of information between the assessor(s) and the College as any of them deem necessary or desirable in order to fulfill their respective obligations. vi. Dr. Wu shall cooperate with unannounced inspections of his office practice and patient charts by the College for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing his compliance with the terms of this Order and will make his OHIP billings accessible to the College for this purpose. Dr. Wu was further ordered to pay the College costs in the amount of $3,650.