Doctors Sonam Maghera and Darryl Young, based in Ottawa, were astonished to discover their biographies on the South Keys Health Centre website despite having no prior connection with the walk-in clinic.
Dr. Maghera, a seasoned sports medicine physician at the Ottawa Orthopaedic Centre, became aware of the puzzling situation when her patients began to question whether she had relocated her practice. Their queries stemmed from her personal information showing up on a different medical centre’s website.
“I was genuinely disturbed, considering I am solely dedicated to my current establishment that I have worked diligently to develop. It is here that I have built a sound practice focused on serving our community,” Maghera clarified.
A closer look at the South Keys Health Centre website quickly confirmed her apprehensions. Her biography was replicated word-for-word, comprised of where she was educated and received her training.
“It came as an outright shock. My primary concern was that my medical license and billing number might be misused for patient visits or to issue prescriptions illicitly,” said Maghera.
A similar incident involving her colleague, Dr. Darryl Young, was also uncovered. His biography mirrored the details on the Ottawa Orthopaedic Centre’s website, with a few alterations.
“They replaced ‘Darryl’ with ‘Dave’ in my name, and the details of my training were modified. However, the remaining information was almost identical,” shared Young.
Several attempts were made by the Ottawa Orthopaedic Centre to understand how their bios ended up on the clinic’s website, but no explanation was offered by the clinic. The biographies have since been taken off the website.
The South Keys Health Centre, known for obliging clients to pay an annual membership fee of $400, came under scrutiny last week. The clinic explains that the fee allows patients access to a nurse practitioner and not a doctor. However, this clarification only stokes concerns given it is unlawful for doctors to demand payment for services that fall under OHIP coverage.
Efforts to establish contact with the clinic have either been ignored or met with vague responses, suggesting a possibility of error.
The Ottawa Orthopaic Centre has lodged a formal complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Better Business Bureau.
In reflecting on the incident, Dr. Maghera stated, “This has been a wake-up call to how susceptible one is to identity theft, with practically no remedies available. This is one added burden that our stress-laden Ontario health care system surely doesn’t need.”
In response to the matter, the Ministry of Health emphasizes the provincial stance against clinics charging for services, indicating that they will undertake necessary measures to eliminate such malpractices. Violations of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act (CFMA) will not be entertained, and complaints regarding the same can be directed to the CFMA program. The Ministry ensures a thorough review of all such allegations, promising full reimbursement to any OHIP-insured patient wrongfully charged for insured services.
