Two Estevan physicians have had their licences temporarily suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for conduct that was deemed as unprofessional.
Dr. Ahmed Belal and his wife, Dr. Hanan Abou El Yazid pleaded guilty to the charge last month.
Both were working as clinical assistants with the Alberta Health Services in January 2018 when they entered the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) Program. They were found guilty of providing inaccurate and untruthful information to Alberta Health Services.
In Belal’s case, he sent an email message to Alberta Health Services, stating he went on leave to Egypt to look after his mother. A further email on Feb. 2 requested leave for one or two months until he finished looking after his mother.
On Feb. 8, he received an email message from Alberta Health Services offering leave until Feb. 23, with a further decision of whether a leave of absence would be approved afterwards. Belal sent an email to Alberta Health Services accepting the offer.
“When you sent the email accepting the offer, you knew that the offer was made based upon the false and/or inaccurate information that you had provided to Alberta Health
Services,” SIPPA wrote in their findings.
His mother had died on or around Feb. 3, 2018.
“When you sent the email on or about February 8, 2018 accepting the offer from Alberta
Health Services, you knew that your mother had died,” SIPPA wrote in the ruling.
As for Abou El Yazid, she received payment from Alberta Health Services for sick leave during a time in which she participated in SIPPA.
“On or about January 29, 2018 you sent an email message to Alberta Health Services stating you had been in a car accident in Egypt and you were in hospital. The information in the January 29 email was untruthful,” the letter stated.
She also sent an email attachment which purported to be a document related to her medical condition, signed by Dr. Mohamed Motwally, which was found to be untruthful.
In addition, she sent an email message to Alberta Health Services on or about Feb. 19, 2018, in which she stated that she had a physical injury and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which was declared by the college as untruthful.
Finally, she sent an email message to Alberta Health Services on or about Feb. 23, 2018 in which she stated that she was not sure whether she would be taking a position in SIPPA.
Both physicians have been suspended for a period of one month, beginning on July 20 and ending on Aug. 19.
They must also successfully complete an ethics course on professionalism to the satisfaction of the registrar. Such a course shall be completed at the first available date.
Belal and Abou El Yazid also have to pay the costs of and incidental to the investigation and hearing in the amount of $5,201.25, by July 21.
If they do not pay the fine, their licence shall be suspended until the costs are paid in full.
The council reserves to itself the right to reconsider and amend the time within which payment of costs must be made, and the right to reconsider and mend the requirements of the retraining or education.
