Retired physician guilty of inappropriate relationship with patient
By Herald on August 24, 2020.
LETHBRIDGE HERALD — EDMONTON
Dr. Allan Garbutt, a family physician who previously practised in the Crowsnest Pass area, has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct by a College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta hearing tribunal.
According to a joint submission, Dr. Garbutt engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient between 2002 and 2004 and failed to disclose this relationship to CPSA, falsely reporting he had not committed any boundary violations. Dr. Garbutt later acknowledged the relationship occurred and the hearing tribunal accepted his admission of unprofessional conduct.
The tribunal found Dr. Garbutt’s unprofessional conduct worthy of significant sanction, it was noted in a news release. However, Dr. Garbutt chose to retire and cancel his permit to practise medicine effective Dec. 31, 2019. He also signed an agreement with CPSA not to seek reinstatement.
The tribunal ordered Dr. Garbutt to pay two-thirds of the costs associated with the investigation and hearing (totalling $13,775.36), as well as a $5,000 fine, given the seriousness of the unprofessional conduct. Sanctions under Bill 21, An Act to Protect Patients, do not apply to this case as the complaint predates the change in legislation.
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