Doctor not responsible for false OHIP claims
November 3, 2009
Peter Small
COURTS BUREAU
A Toronto doctor accused of defrauding OHIP out of $65,000 for non-existent treatments for family members has been found "not criminally responsible" by reason of her mental disorder.
Dr. Susan Burlacoff "had a fixed false belief" that she was providing medical services for members of her family and another woman, Ontario Superior Court Justice Carolyn Horkins said Monday. As a result Burlacoff did not know the billings were wrong, Horkins said.
The judge expressed concern that Burlacoff, 53, is continuing to practise medicine at walk-in clinics despite her mental illness, especially since she stopped taking medication for the illness in January 2008.
The next step is a hearing, which is to determine whether Burlacoff is at risk of committing a serious crime in the future. It begins Nov. 26.
Medical experts called by the defence, including psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Gutheil, said a psychotic disorder had caused Burlacoff to submit some 2,700 billings for non-existent treatments between 1996 and 2001.
She medicalized "kitchen table" conversations with family members, the defence experts said.
Gutheil said Burlacoff has traits of paranoia, narcissism and borderline personality disorder. But her intelligence and organizational skills have helped disguise her problems, he testified.
Toronto Star
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