Dr. Bruce Hoffman sanctioned for unprofessional conduct

Edmonton, AB – Dr. Bruce Hoffman, a general practitioner from Calgary, was sanctioned by a CPSA Hearing Tribunal for three counts of unprofessional conduct.

In 2023, the Tribunal found Dr. Hoffman guilty of billing a patient for private lab testing between 2014 and 2019, at significant cost and above what is permitted under CPSA’s standard of practice. Dr. Hoffman was also found guilty of billing his patient privately on 21 occasions from 2014 to 2018 while also billing the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan for the same services, and failing to create a record for patient visits on five occasions. These actions contravene CPSA’s standards on Sale of Products by Physicians and Charging for Uninsured Professional Services, as well as the Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and Professionalism and Alberta’s Health Professions Act.

The Hearing Tribunal considered submissions from both parties before issuing their order on sanction, which includes the following:

• Hoffman must pay $20,762.47 to the estate of the patient, as repayment for the excessive portion of fees charged for the private lab testing.
• Hoffman is suspended from practice for one month, to begin within two months of the date on the Tribunal’s written decision.
• Hoffman must take and pass a course on professional ethics and boundaries.
• Hoffman is responsible for 30 per cent of the total costs of the investigation and hearing.

Dr. Hoffman has appealed the findings of unprofessional conduct and the Tribunal’s decision on sanction, and has asked CPSA Council to pause the Hearing Tribunal’s orders pending the outcome of the appeal.

Resources:

CPSA Hearing Tribunal decision (sanction)

CPSA Hearing Tribunal decision (merits)

CPSA media release (September 2023)