A doctor in the Windsor area has been suspended for eight months after a disciplinary process by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) regarding violations of patient medical records.
According to a reprimand issued by the CPSO on Wednesday, Dr. Omar Afandi accessed personal health information for 146 patients between April 18 and May 7, 2024, using a medical records system shared by four hospitals in southwestern Ontario.
An earlier investigation conducted by the province’s information and privacy commissioner revealed that he did this to provide circumcision services at his partially owned private clinic, WE Kidz Pediatrics, to parents of newborn boys. He was fined in August 2025.
The CPSO concluded that Dr. Afandi “[engaged] in an act … that, having regard to all the circumstances would be reasonably regarded by registrants as disgraceful, dishonorable or unprofessional.”
With his registration suspended starting Thursday, he is no longer able to practice medicine in Ontario.
“Not only did you access this personal health information, you also transferred it to your personal cellphone and used it to contact patients for the purposes of soliciting clinical work that was not covered by OHIP, for your own financial gain,” according to a transcript of the reprimand delivered by the CPSO reads.
“This was premeditated conduct.”
In a statement to CBC, Dr. Afandi acknowledged the CPSO’s decision.
“I accept the outcome of this process,” he said. “I became a physician to care for children and families. That remains my focus. Steps have been taken to ensure continuity of care for the patients and families I serve.”
The CPSO expressed particular concern about how many patient records were accessed, that this information came from a shared hospital medical records system, and that it was transferred to a private clinic.
“Your conduct undermines trust in the profession and will not be tolerated,” stated the CPSO.
In their reprimand, the college recognized Dr. Afandi’s admission of wrongdoing and noted that he had taken voluntary ethics training.
The ruling mandated an eight-month suspension of Dr. Afandi’s registration along with an order for him to pay $6,000 in costs to the college.
Windsor Regional Hospital confirmed that Dr. Afandi does not hold hospital privileges anymore; those privileges were revoked as of May 2024.
Source link
Source link
