Dr. Monica Cavanagh sanctioned by CPSA Hearing Tribunal

Edmonton, AB – After admitting to unprofessional conduct, Dr. Monica Cavanagh, a psychiatrist from Canmore, was sanctioned by a CPSA Hearing Tribunal.

After she began providing care for a child, Dr. Cavanagh also took on the child’s parent as a patient and eventually, the parent’s younger child. During this time, Dr. Cavanagh failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with the parent in several ways, including providing a personal email address, engaging in casual conversations, disclosing personal information, exchanging gifts and providing medical care without billing for it. Dr. Cavanagh also took unconventional approaches to treatment with both the parent and one of the children, without following the standards required for practising outside of established conventional medicine. When Dr. Cavanagh became uncomfortable with the situation, she abruptly terminated care for all three patients without transitioning their care to another provider.

Dr. Cavanagh admitted that her conduct was unprofessional and the Tribunal accepted a joint submission on sanction, which includes:

• Dr. Cavanagh will received a reprimand.
• At her own cost, Dr. Cavanagh must fully participate in CPSA’s Individual Practice Review program and complete a course on ethics and boundaries.
• Dr. Cavanagh is responsible for a portion of the costs of the hearing and investigation, totalling $10,000.

Resources:
CPSA Hearing Tribunal decision