The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is investigating a Brantford doctor who allegedly coerced methadone patients into filling prescriptions at a pharmacy of his choosing.
If true, that would be a breach of doctors’ ethical rules, as doctors are expected to be impartial when it comes to where prescriptions are filled.
The accusations are being spearheaded by William Brown, who operates the Grand River Pharmacy on Colborne Street in Brantford.
Brown’s pharmacy used to be in the same building as the Colborne Street Clinic, which is operated by Dr. Jatinder Dhillon.
He says he was eventually kicked out of the building by Dhillon, who then tried to bill him for back rent at 10 times his actual rate.
A new pharmacy then opened up in that space, under the name of Hope Pharmacy.
Initially, Brown says, methadone patients stayed loyal to his pharmacy.
Before long, Brown says, he started hearing from patients and even his own staff members that Dhillon was improperly directing patients to his own pharmacy.
“A lot of coercive tactics were used,” he said.
“In some cases the physician would actually lead the patient to the pharmacy.”
Dhillon did not respond to phone calls requesting comment for this story.
When a CTV Kitchener reporter visited his clinic, he was told that Dhillon was not available for comment.
Methadone is used by an estimated 50,000 Ontarians as a substitute for more potent street drugs.
In Ontario, doctors bill the province for about $156 million a year to cover methadone-related expenses.
The province has recently launched a review of doctors’ billing practices when methadone is concerned.
