Montreal hires doctor who violated code of ethics
An orthopaedist who violated his professional code of ethics has been given an untendered contract potentially worth several thousand dollars by the City of Montreal.
In 2011 Dr Chérif Tadros was suspended for three months by the disciplinary arm of the Quebec College of Physicians. He appealed that decision and was fined $30,000 instead.
Tadros was found to have received money from a pharmaceutical company between 2001 and 2006 for selling prosthetics in the hospital where he worked.
But a document obtained by Radio-Canada indicates Tadros was recently hired by the City of Montreal to join a team of medical specialists that investigates absences of municipal employees.
The team is part of an effort by the city to crack down on absenteeism.
Tadros will be able to charge the city $800 each time he offers his expert opinion. He will receive an additional $48 for each report he writes. The maximum amount he is allowed to charge the city this year is $116,998.56 (tax included).
Tadros's contract was untendered, so no other doctor was able to make a competing offer. The municipal document, however, says the city's team of medical specialists was selected after "many months of research."
The document also says the city had little negotiating power because the demand for doctors doing this type of works far exceeds supply.
Quebec's federation of specialist doctors was unable to confirm whether the rates being charged to the city are considered average.