On June 25, 2018, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Troy Christie Drone committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he has engaged in an act or omission relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
Dr. Drone is a physician who currently practises as an anesthetist in Kitchener. He received his certificate of registration authorizing independent practice in Ontario in 1994. At the time of the incidents described below, Dr. Drone was a member of the Ontario Medical Association (“OMA”), the association that represents the political and economic interests of physicians in Ontario. It is the exclusive representative of Ontario physicians in negotiations with the Province of Ontario.
Tentative Physician Services Agreement (“tPSA”)
On July 11 2016, the OMA and the Ontario government reached a tentative agreement dealing with government funding for physician services and changes to the physician fee schedule, among other issues, tPSA. The tPSA was to have a term of four years, and would have replaced a previous agreement, which terminated in 2014. The tPSA was endorsed by the OMA’s Board, including by Dr. Virginia Walley, who was President of the OMA at the time. The OMA promoted the agreement in the weeks leading up to a General Meeting, which took place on August 14, 2016. On August 14, 2016, the OMA membership voted to reject the tPSA.
Dr. Drone’s emails between June 21 and August 11, 2016
Between June 21 and August 11, 2016, in response to the OMA’s support of the tPSA, Dr. Drone sent a series of emails to Dr. Walley’s personal email address, as well as to an email address used by OMA staff, including Dr. Walley, to communicate publicly about the tPSA.
The following are excerpts from the emails:
- June 21, 2016: “do your paid job and stop letting this horrible government fuck us around!!! Enough already!! Listen to everyone!! Holy fuck. For fucks sake??? Fuck!!!”
- June 28, 2016: “ You suck!!! SUCK!!”
- August 1, 2016: “Dr. Walley, you are a cunt. Crash and burn as you deserve to do!! … Sincerely, FUCK YOU and the OMA!!! Dr. Drone”
- August 10, 2016: “Fuck you!”
- August 11, 2016: at 6:06 pm: “Fuck-off Virginia”; 6:08 pm: “Fuck-off!”; 6:09 pm: “Fuck off!”
The emails sent by Dr. Drone were viewed by Dr. Walley as well as OMA staff who monitored the tPSA email address.
Dr. Drone’s prior history and response during investigation
Dr. Drone has no prior disciplinary history before the Discipline Committee. He provided two responses during the investigation, in which he apologized to Dr. Walley and acknowledged that his conduct was unacceptable. He also undertook Professional Communication coaching with Dawn Martin, Communications Specialist and Educational Consultant, to develop skills related to professional communication in challenging scenarios, specifically with colleagues. Dr. Drone and Dr. Martin met on six occasions between July 2017 and June 2018. In October 2017, Dr. Drone successfully completed the PROBE Ethics and Boundaries Course for physicians.
Disposition
On June 25, 2018, the Committee ordered and directed that:
- the Registrar suspend Dr. Drone’s certificate of registration for a period of one (1) month, commencing at 12:01 a.m. on July 2, 2018.
- Dr. Drone appear before the panel to be reprimanded.
- Dr. Drone pay to the College its costs of this proceeding in the amount of $6,000 within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order.
