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Practice Restrictions
Imposed By: Discipline Committee
Effective Date: 12 Aug 2009
Expiry Date:
Status: Active
As from 11:59 p.m., August 12, 2009, by order of the Discipline Committee of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the following terms,
conditions and limitations (from Appendix A of the Discipline Committee's
order) are imposed on the certificate of registration held by Dr. Deborah Anne
Drake (note: Appendix A containing Dr. Drake's complete undertaking is
contained in full decision under "Past Findings"):
(1) General
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to obtain a pertinent history and
conduct a physical examination of each patient sufficient to make
or confirm a conventional diagnosis.
(b) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to investigate patient complaints
utilizing generally accepted modalities pertinent to the complaint.
(c) With respect to all diagnoses, Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to
first advise the patient of the usual and conventional treatment
options, their risks, benefits and efficacy as reflected by the
current knowledge.
(d) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that if she is of the view that
the patient may benefit from the EPFX for stress reduction, she
will explain to the patient that, at the present time, the
scientific literature with respect to the reliability of the EPFX
is still at the early developmental stage. She undertakes to
explain that at the present time the EPFX machine's license has
been suspended by Health Canada because the manufacturer was unable
to establish that it was effective for biofeedback use, evoked
potential biofeedback and stress reduction. She further undertakes
to explain to the patient that conventional medicine does not
support the use of the machine.
(e) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that if any other complementary
treatments are offered to the patient, she will, in accordance with
the CPSO's policy, provide the patient with sufficient information
to allow the patient to make an informed choice.
(f) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE will document all the foregoing in her
chart.
(g) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes not to use the EPFX machine
diagnostically, but only therapeutically.
(h) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to employ the consent form
approved by the College attached hereto as Appendix "A" when EPFX
treatments are offered to the patient. She undertakes to seek the
College's approval before any changes to the consent form are made,
and where other complementary treatments are offered to the
patient.
(i) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to maintain a log of all patients
upon whom the EPFX machine is used.
(2) Parasites and/or Yeast
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that in the case of suspected
intestinal parasites and/or yeast, she will order the appropriate
test from the Ontario Provincial Laboratory.
(b) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that if those tests are negative
for pathological intestinal parasites and/or yeast, she will advise
the patient and will also advise the patient that a conventional
medical practitioner may conclude that, in the absence of
confirmatory evidence from the laboratory test, the patient may not
have pathology due to parasites and/or yeast.
(c) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that if other signs and symptoms
suggest that the patient is suffering from pathology due to
parasites and/or yeast, despite the negative tests, she will advise
the patient of his or her treatment options, and the risks and
benefits associated with each treatment option.
(d) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes that she is of the opinion that
one of her patients has parasites and/or yeast, she will recommend
that the patient see a Royal College Certified Infectious Diseases
Specialist, and will make such referral upon agreement by the
patient to see such specialist. She agrees not to provide any
medical treatment other than that recommended by the specialist.
For greater clarity, she agrees that in the event the patient is
not seen by a Royal College Infectious Disease Specialist, she will
refrain from continuing to treat the patient for parasites and/or
yeast.
(e) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE agrees that section 2(d) does not apply to
vaginal yeast infections as diagnosed by conventional medical
procedures including a vaginal swab. She agrees that in the case
of a suspected vaginal yeast infection, she will take a vaginal
swab. She agrees that she will treat vaginal yeast infections with
conventional topical medical therapy. If the patient does not
respond within the expected time frame, she will refer the patient
to a family physician or gynecologist for treatment.
(f) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to document all the foregoing in
her chart.
(g) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to maintain a log of all patients
with suspected parasites and/or yeast.
(3) Vaccines
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes not to discourage the use of
vaccines in any of my patients.
(b) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to refer patients to their family
physicians for vaccines when conventionally indicated and will
clearly document all discussions regarding vaccinations in patient
charts.
(4) Website
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE agrees to undertake a wholesale revision of
her website acceptable to the College within 4 weeks of the
execution of this undertaking.
(5) Education
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to attend a course approved by
the College to update her skills in critical appraisal of medical
evidence as soon as possible and to notify the College upon
completion.
(6) Practice Restriction and Clinical Supervisor
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes to continue to engage a Clinical
Supervisor who is acceptable to the College (the "Clinical
Supervisor") to meet with her weekly to review at a minimum, all
aspects of my practice including all charts and testing performed
and to discuss any issues or concerns arising there from.
(b) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE acknowledges that she is permitted to
practice only if this Clinical Supervisor arrangement is in place.
(c) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE acknowledges that she has reviewed the
Clinical Supervisor's undertaking, attached hereto as Appendix "B",
and understand what is required of the Clinical Supervisor,
including monthly reports to the College.
(7) Re-Assessments
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE will submit to a re-assessment of her
practice by an assessor appointed by the College (the "Assessor")
approximately 12 months from the date of the execution of this
Undertaking and again at approximately 24 months from the date of
the execution of this Undertaking.
(b) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE acknowledges that the Assessor will prepare
a report following completion of each re-assessment, which report
will be submitted to the Executive Committee for its consideration.
(8) Monitoring
(a) Dr. DEBORAH ANNE DRAKE undertakes and agrees to co-operate with the
College in monitoring her compliance with this Undertaking.