News Releases
Discipline Committee Decisions
Dr. Norbert I. Ekeh; Dr. Eleazar H. Noriega
July 28, 2011
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. Norbert I. Ekeh, Scarborough. On July 11, 2011, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Ekeh committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession in his care and treatment of multiple obstetrics and gynaecology patients, including that he:
- performed various procedures without indication;
- failed to address significant blood loss in multiple patients during surgery;
- displayed poor surgical technique;
- failed to recognize and act on surgical complications;
- failed to offer non-surgical options;
- prepared deficient operative notes and discharge summaries;
- left needle tips in patients during surgery in several cases .
The Discipline Committee ordered a public reprimand, and directed that a number of specified terms and conditions be imposed on Dr. Ekeh's certificate of registration:
Dr. Ekeh may practice only in an office setting and shall not engage in surgical practice, any hospital-based obstetrical/gynaecological practice or any labour and delivery practice save for the sole and limited purpose of completing an acceptable remedial program in obstetrics and gynaecology under the guidance and supervision of a preceptor acceptable to the College.
The remedial program must be approved in advance by the College and shall consist of any remedial elements the College deems appropriate, including, without limitation, the following elements:
i) completion of a residency program or analogous experience;
ii) a period of high supervision during which Dr. Ekeh is restricted from being the most responsible physician;
iii) direct observation of Dr. Ekeh's patient care; and
iv) clinical supervision including chart reviews, reports to the College and regular meetings with Dr. Ekeh.
The restriction shall remain in effect until such time as Dr. Ekeh has completed the remedial program and the preceptor has reported to the College that Dr. Ekeh is, in all respects, ready to resume an independent surgical, hospital-based obstetrical/gynaecological and/or labour and delivery practice. One year after completing the remedial program and resuming a surgical, hospital-based obstetrical/gynaecological and/or labour and delivery practice, or as soon as practicable thereafter, Dr. Ekeh shall undergo a re-assessment of his practice by an assessor appointed by the College and abide by any recommendations of the assessor. Any costs associated with the remedial program, the re-assessment or any other terms of this order shall be borne by Dr. Ekeh. Dr. Ekeh was further ordered to pay $3,650 in costs to the College.
Dr. Eleazar H. Noriega, Toronto. On July 18, 2011, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Noriega committed acts of professional misconduct, in that he has engaged in sexual impropriety with a patient and in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct.
In 1979, Dr. Noriega inappropriately rubbed the clitoris of a 16-year-old female patient during a medical appointment at a teen health clinic. A penalty hearing is to be scheduled.
For further information, please contact:
Kathryn Clarke
Sr. Communications Coordinator
Policy and Communications
416-967-2600 Ext. 378
800-268-7096 Ext. 378