Canada-based Nigerian doctor suspended for hugging and blowing an air kiss at colleague (Details)
Efe Ovueni, a Nigerian doctor working in Canada, has been barred from practicing medicine for three months due to unprofessional behavior.
During a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta tribunal hearing, the medical practitioner charged of hugging and blowing an air kiss a coworker agreed to doing so without her permission.
On Jan. 21, 2020, the medical practitioner invited a member of the medical office staff to his office, where he hugged her four times and blew an air kiss at her.
After the encounter, the physician texted the employee, saying things like, “Hope you are not mad with me?” and “I got too excited.”
The doctor apologized and said, “Thank you for…your smile,” when the victim said, “That’s OK, but it was going too far.”
Following the completion of its hearing in December 2021, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) tribunal confirmed the dr’s suspension on Thursday, February 4.
The doctor’s acts did not meet the standards for sexual misconduct under the Health Professions Act since the woman was a staff member, not a patient, according to the tribunal hearing.
After completing two weeks of his suspension, Ovueni will be allowed to resume practicing since 2.5 months of his three-month punishment will be put in abeyance for a period of five years. The doctor was also fined $3,000 and is accountable for the costs of the hearing and inquiry, which were not disclosed.
In the words of the tribunal;
“He shall be suspended for a period of 3 months, with 2 weeks to be served on dates acceptable to the Complaints Director and completed within 6 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 5 years after the date the Hearing Tribunal issues its written decision.
“If further boundary concerns come to the attention of the Complaints Director and are referred to an investigation within 5 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 5 years from the date the Hearing Tribunal issues its written decision, the remaining 2.5-month suspension shall expire.”
