A Chatham-Kent doctor has had his licence suspended after prescribing his wife unnecessary medication.
Dr. Timothy Rourke has admitted before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to committing acts of professional misconduct by inappropriately prescribing medications to a family member, and improperly storing prescription medications from his medical practice.
As a result, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has suspended Dr. Rourke’s licence for 10 months, beginning October 14, 2021. He has also been ordered to pay $6,000 to the College and he must take a course on medical ethics with an instructor.
Dr. Rourke has practised at the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres (CKCHC) since 2017.
According to the CPSO, the College began an investigation in 2018 after Dr. Rourke’s wife filed a complaint. Through prescription receipts, the College determined that between October 2011 and December 2013, Dr. Rourke provided medication to his wife that was not medically necessary. The college said none of the prescribed medications were narcotics and only one was a controlled substance.
Investigators also seized over 5,000 pills of a variety of medications, including hydromorphone, oxycodone, lorazepam and clonazepam. Many of the medication prescriptions that the
investigators found were under the names of numerous patients that had been prescribed by Dr. Rourke and other doctors. As well, some of the medication had expired more than 10 years earlier.
In a statement provided to 99.1 News, CKCHC Executive Director Sherri Saunders said Dr. Rourke made her aware of the College’s ruling. She added that Dr. Rourke will be on a leave of absence from the organization until his practice restrictions are lifted on July 14, 2023.
