A Chatham neurologist has had his medical license suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife and making threats against his family. Dr. Awad Mortada had his license suspended for eight months at a disciplinary hearing by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in Toronto on Friday after the College’s lawyers and Dr. Mortada presented agreed statements of facts. The Court found that Dr. Mortada committed an act of professional misconduct that panel members found to be disgraceful, dishonorable or unprofessional, adding that the offenses are “relevant to his fitness to practice [medicine].” Dr. Mortada has been instructed by the College to close his practice and inform his patients of the closure. He must also successfully complete ethics training by mid-March 2023 at his own expense. He must also pay for the College’s $6,000 in expenses by the middle of next month. Mortada was found guilty of assault and death threats and sentenced to two years probation on June 24, 2019 for punching his wife in the face and chest, trying to suffocate his wife with a pillow and threatening to kill his entire family by driving a delivery truck . At the time, Mortada was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and banned from owning weapons for five years. The court members wrote that laws exist to protect society, adding that the primary principle of the medical profession is “first to do no harm to anyone, whether patient or not. “Our society abhors violence and assault, especially against intimate partners and family. You acted violently and committed an assault against members of your family, not once but repeatedly,” the commission wrote in a stern reprimand following the suspension decision. “You have also breached your legal agreement not to approach or contact members of your family. This is very worrying and exacerbates the misconduct.’ The rebuke goes on to say that doctors are expected to control their emotions and behave professionally, both in and out of the clinical setting. “The lives and well-being of our patients depend on it. Your actions have undoubtedly caused physical and emotional trauma to your family members and you have lost their trust. The loss of confidence resulting from your failure to honor your legal agreement is also serious and cannot be underestimated,” the panel continued. “We recognize your rehabilitation activities and ongoing treatment, but your misconduct is appalling and inexcusable. Your behavior does not reflect badly on you and the profession and your violent behavior should be punished.” The court hopes the “significant suspension” will serve as a deterrent to future misconduct and send a strong message to all doctors that this behavior is not condoned. It also hopes the sentence will maintain public confidence in the profession’s ability to govern itself in the public interest and safety. Dr. Mortada was previously on staff at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, but has not had privileges with Chatham-Kent Health Alliance since March 2020, according to hospital officials. He was admitted to the hospital in February 2017.
