Statement: William (Viliam) Makis not licensed to practise medicine in Alberta

Our role as Alberta’s medical regulator, as legislated by the Health Professions Act, is to make sure physicians and physician assistants practising medicine in Alberta are qualified to do so, to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care.

We do this by registering and licensing physicians, ensuring they’re qualified to provide high-quality care to their patients. Legislation also allows us to safeguard Albertans from potential physical and financial harm by setting minimum standards for professional and ethical physician behaviour and managing physician-related complaints.

That’s why regulators have rules about who can use the title “doctor” when it comes to medical care. If someone isn’t a licensed medical doctor but still uses the title in relation to providing care, patients might mistakenly trust them with their health, even though they may not have the right expertise or training.

The same goes for doctors whose licenses are no longer active. A medical license isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s proof that a doctor is meeting current standards for safe practice. It also means they can be held accountable through regulatory processes if patients aren’t receiving safe or appropriate care.

Mr. Makis has not held an active license with CPSA since February 2019 and we have become increasingly concerned by reports that Mr. Makis is presenting himself as a doctor in relation to the practise of medicine, including providing medical opinions, advice and consultations. The term “doctor” is considered a protected title under the Health Professions Act (HPA), Part 7, Section 128:

No person shall use the title “doctor”, “surgeon”, “pathologist” or “oncologist” or the abbreviation “Dr.” alone or in combination with other words in connection with providing a health service unless the person is authorized to use the title or abbreviation by this Act or another enactment.

Using the title of doctor or MD in relation to providing medical care without an active license means there are no regulatory safeguards to ensure patients are receiving safe care, aligned with current medical practices and standards. It is dangerous and can lead to misdiagnoses, incorrect treatments and serious physical and/or financial harm to patients. If a patient is harmed by someone not licensed to practice medicine, there is no accountability for the unlicensed person who caused the harm.

We strongly encourage patients to seek out care from licensed and actively practising medical professionals, which can be verified by checking the regulatory body’s website—in this case, CPSA’s Physician Directory.