Cameron not endangering patients: lawyer

Dr. Ian Cameron may use some unusual language in his professional communications, but that's not enough to take away his licence, his lawyer told a hearingTuesday.

The Summerside doctorisfacing accusations from the P.E.I. College of Physicians and Surgeonsthathe's unfit to practice medicine.

The college has cited Cameron for failing to provide regular reports from his psychiatrist and from random blood-alcohol testing, and for failing to complete a course on record keeping and communication.

Among the evidence presented Tuesday before thepanel of three put together by the college a lawyer and two out-of-province physicians were prescriptions and referral letters written by Cameron.

One prescription was made out to a surname only. Others referred to drugs as "that little blue pill" and "the drug welfare pays for."

There were complaints that he used inappropriate language in some referralletters he wrote to specialists. In one, he called a patient "a drunk and a chicken."

Cameron's lawyer, John Mitchell, countered "it was political correctness gone mad" to suggest it was wrong to call a 90-year-old an "old man," or a160-kilogram woman "fat."

Mitchell said the college could chastise Cameron over the letters, but shouldn't take away his licence as he had done nothing to endanger his patients' health. The language may have been inappropriate, he said,and the letters rambling, but they improved after Cameron took courses ordered by the college.

The college also presented a recent report by a neuropsychologist which raised concerns over Cameron's lack of insight and lack of judgment.

The college's lawyer, Gordon MacKay called Cameron's behaviour "bizarre" and suggested Cameron is either thumbing his nose at the college or is terribly disorganized.

Cameron testified his patients are well cared for. He said he's complied with every order the college made and if medical reports were tardy it was his doctor's fault, not his.

The college's concerns over Cameron's behaviour cover incidents spanning the past decade. In 1995 Cameron lost his licence after being convicted of sexually assaulting three female patients. After serving time in prison, he got his licence back with conditions.

One of those conditions was that a chaperone be present while he examined female patients. The college is concerned that for a time Cameron stopped abiding by that condition.

Cameron testified that the former College registrar told him not to bother and he had no reason to doubt her. The College's lawyer pointed out that the registrar had since died and wasn't able to testify now to confirm Cameron's story.

The panel says it should have a decision some time next month.