Psychiatrist suspended for writing baseless doctor's notes to get hospital employees off work

A Sherbrooke, Que., psychiatrist who issued medical certificates of work stoppage for two hospital employees she never examined has been suspended from practice for two months and hit with a $5,000 fine. Dr. Sylvie Godbout, who works in consult liaison at Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Estrie-Centre hospitaliere universitaire de Sherbrooke, was reprimanded for serious ethical breaches by the disciplinary board of the Collège des médecins du Québec. Nonetheless, although the board handed down a total suspension period of five months–two months each for two of the charges and an additional month for another charge–Dr. Godbout has been allowed to serve all three sentences concurrently, for a total of two months. Read: STICKY SITUATION: Psychiatrist slammed for giving patient tape and instructions on genital tucking The case stems from medical certificates Dr. Godbout issued in 2019. One hospital employee received a certificate without medical basis and without meeting with Dr. Godbout. The same employee had previously been given several medical certificates, which Dr. Godbout failed to record in the employee’s patient file. According to the disciplinary board, another employee received a retroactive medical certificate from Dr. Godbout, which stated that for medical reasons, the employee could not meet with an examining physician to substantiate the certificate. “A physician undermines the credibility of his or her profession when he or she abdicates his or her responsibilities and agrees to issue an attestation without even having seen the patient for a long period of time or when he or she agrees to issue a retroactive attestation of incapacity in such a context,” wrote the board. “A physician shows a serious lack of rigour when he or she does this.” Dr. Godbout also received a reprimand for the way she acted when the hospital’s human resources director sent her a letter requesting records. According to the board, Dr. Godbout responded by telling the HR director, in writing, that her conduct was inappropriate and excessive. Dr. Godbout also left a phone message telling the HR director she intended to file a complaint with the bar, even though the director is not a lawyer. Read: Sex, lies and sanctions: Psychiatrist hit with $15,000 penalty and barred from practice

Psychiatrist suspended for writing baseless doctor's notes to get hospital employees off work

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