An Edmonton neurologist has been suspended for up to 15 months after being found guilty of unprofessional conduct stemming from a personal relationship with a female patient.
A hearing tribunal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta ruled Dr. Bradley Stewart, 52, violated the college’s standards of practice when he ended a patient-physician relationship with a woman to pursue a sexual relationship with her.
“The conduct in issue is a serious ethical transgression,” the tribunal wrote in its decision. “The (college’s) code of conduct clearly states that a physician must maintain professional boundaries in any interaction with a patient.”
The tribunal was told that the female patient was referred to Stewart in the spring of 2010. The woman told the tribunal’s investigator that during her first visit with Stewart “he sat very close to her and complimented her. He told her they were close to the same age and suggested they could date,” the tribunal’s ruling said. “Despite feeling somewhat uncomfortable, she returned for her appointment with Dr. Stewart on May 12, 2010.”
The two began having sex a day after that second appointment. A little over two weeks later, Stewart sent an email to a colleague suggesting that another physician take over her treatment.
Stewart and the woman eventually forged a long-term relationship and lived together for two years.
However, even though Stewart had ended his professional relationship with the woman, he resumed treating her at one point and provided medication without a prescription. He also failed to advise a colleague to stop sending him the patient’s consultation reports.
The tribunal found that both of those actions also constituted unprofessional conduct. Stewart did not contest the allegations during a one-day hearing on Nov. 21, 2012, and did not appeal the decision.
Stewart’s suspension begins April 1 and will last 15 months, though the last six months could be removed if he meets certain conditions and maintains good conduct.
Among those conditions, Stewart must participate in the college’s sexual boundary violators’ program for at least five years, complete a multidisciplinary assessment at a facility in Texas, and have a chaperone present when he is treating female patients until it is deemed no longer necessary.
He must also pay $41,695 to cover the costs of the college’s investigation and hearing.
The tribunal noted the suspension could create complications for some of Stewart’s approximately 2,000 patients, which includes those with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, spinocerebellar atrophy and other conditions.
While the suspension was delayed until April 1 to allow Stewart to arrange transfers, the process has been difficult due to the small number of neurologists in Edmonton who are already grappling with high patient loads, the tribunal said. The recent retirement of another MS specialist has created further hardship.
Because of this shortage, the tribunal ruled Stewart can practice a maximum of three days a month during the suspension, but only to ensure the safety of a group of multiple sclerosis patients taking the drug Tysabri. The drug must be managed properly as it can have serious side effects.
Kelly Eby, communications director for the college, said the tribunal had no wish to adversely effect patients with its ruling.
“You can’t ignore someone’s bad behaviour because it may have an impact on other individuals,” she said. “If someone is not practising appropriately, we have to deal with it.”
Stewart had no prior complaints or convictions.
kgerein@edmontonjournal.com