Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 15 Dec 2014
Summary:
On December 15, 2014, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Finnegan committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he sexually abused a patient; and that he has engaged in conduct or an act or omission relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional. Dr. Finnegan admitted to the allegations.
Patient A attended for psychoanalysis at Dr. Finnegan’s office from December 1983 to April 1995. Between the Fall of 1994 and April 1995, Dr. Finnegan and Patient A had a sexual relationship involving sexual intercourse on a regular basis, while still continuing their psychoanalytic relationship. Patient A ended the psychoanalytic relationship in April 1995. This relationship continued up until 2003 when Dr. Finnegan broke off the relationship with Patient A.
The Discipline Committee ordered and directed that:
• the Registrar revoke Dr. Finnegan’s certificate of registration effective immediately.
• Dr. Finnegan appear before the panel to be reprimanded.
• Dr. Finnegan post an irrevocable letter of credit or other security acceptable to the College by January 15, 2015 in the amount of $16,060.00 in order to reimburse the College for funding provided to patients under the program required under section 85.7 of the Health Professions Procedural Code, which is Schedule “A” to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.
• Dr. Finnegan pay costs to the College in the amount of $4,460 by January 15, 2015.