'I was desperate': Former patient warns about Calgary doctor awaiting penalty for professional misconduct
CTV
A Calgary doctor found guilty of professional misconduct is waiting to find out his penalty and a former patient is warning others based on his experience with that doctor.
A Calgary doctor found guilty of professional misconduct is waiting to find out his penalty and a former patient is warning others based on his experience with that doctor.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) announced in September 2023 that Dr. Bruce Hoffman of Calgary's Hoffman Clinic, was found guilty of three counts of unprofessional conduct for charging some patients and Alberta Health Care for the same visits.
“The double-dipping problem is an issue. Unfortunately, it’s not that uncommon,” said medical ethicist Dr. Timothy Caulfied.
The CPSA also found that Hoffman was taking advantage of a patient's hope for profit.
The investigation began when a patient’s grieving widow filed a complaint stemming from a fruitless four-year-long treatment of a woman's case of atypical parkinsonism that her family says cost them close to $400,000.
Another former patient, Steve Fader, said over almost two years between 2018 and 2020 he spent nearly $200,000 at the Hoffman clinic and never got better.
“Each time I paid, I waived the gut feeling that I had about it being wrong, just due to the fact that I was desperate,” said Fader.
