On November 16, 2011, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Lorne Wayne Sokol committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he has been found guilty of an offence that is relevant to his suitability to practise.
On or about December 14, 2009, Dr. Sokol pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice and was found guilty of submitting billings to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan ("OHIP") that did not comply with the requirements of the Schedule of Benefits, thereby committing an offence under the Health Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, contrary to section 44(1)(a). The conviction related to the period from approximately March 1, 2003 to February 15, 2007.
In light of submissions made by the parties, and acknowledging that Dr. Sokol had made a significant repayment of the amount owing to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and to OHIP, totalling $3,511,356.62, the Court imposed a sentence that included a fine of $25,000.00, plus the victim fine surcharge of $6,250, payable in 7 days.
The Discipline Committee ordered and directed that:
1. The Registrar suspend Dr. Sokol's certificate of registration for a period of three (3) months, to commence at 12:01 a.m. on December 1, 2011.
2. The Registrar impose the following specified terms, conditions and limitations on Dr. Sokol's certificate of registration:
a) Dr. Sokol shall, at his own expense, participate in and successfully complete an educational program in ethics approved by the College;
b) For a period of one year, the College may request information from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and/or the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in order for the College to monitor Dr. Sokol's OHIP billings and to ensure his compliance with the Health Insurance Act;
c) In order to facilitate the College's monitoring, specified in paragraph 2(b), Dr. Sokol shall execute a Consent in the form attached at Appendix "A" to this Order, and shall cooperate with unannounced inspections of his practice and patient charts by a College representative(s) for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing his compliance with the terms of this Order.
3. Dr. Sokol appear before the panel to be reprimanded.
4. Dr. Sokol pay costs to the College in the amount of $3,650.00, within 30 days of the date of this Order.