News Releases
Discipline Committee Decision
Dr. Ian Egbert Depass
April 29, 2010
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (“the College”) released the results of its most recent disciplinary hearings. The College is the licensing and disciplinary body for physicians in Ontario. Hearings are held to review allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence, and are open to the public. The following are brief summaries of recent discipline hearing results. The Discipline Committee’s full decisions and reasons for decisions are posted on the College’s website as they become available. Full decisions are located by entering the doctor’s name in the Doctor Search section of the College’s website.
Dr. Ian Egbert Depass, Chatham. On October 8, 2009, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Depass, a general surgeon, is incompetent and committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession with respect to his management of the abdominal surgery of three patients including aspects of pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care such as:
- Regarding Patient A, failing to take sufficient steps to confirm the working diagnosis in advance of the operation and in the post-operative management of the patient.
- Regarding Patient B, failing to conduct a radiologic procedure during surgery and failing to undertake sufficient investigations during the post-operative period before discharging the patient.
- Regarding Patient E, failing to refer the patient to a surgeon with the requisite skill to manage a difficult and locally-advanced tumor.
On March 30, 2010, the Discipline Committee ordered a public reprimand, and imposed a number of specified terms and conditions, for an indefinite period of time, on Dr. Depass’ certificate of registration. Dr. Depass is restricted to being a surgical assistant in a hospital setting, and he may only practise as a surgical assistant while a certified surgeon who has been approved by the College is performing the surgery and is in attendance. This means that he may only assist other surgeons on their cases and cannot be the primary surgeon in any case, and that he is precluded from providing pre-operative and post-operative care or any office practice. Notice is to be placed in the operating room area so that all professional staff is aware of this restriction. Dr. DePass shall also cooperate with unannounced inspections for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing his compliance with this order.