Calgary doctor sanctioned for inappropriate exchanges with female patient

A Calgary physician has been sanctioned for having an inappropriate relationship with one of his patients in 2021. (Pexels/Negative Space)

A Calgary doctor has been sanctioned after he admitted to consuming drugs and engaging inappropriate behaviour with a female patient four years ago.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) said Dr. Benjamin Cavilla was penalized after he acted inappropriately on a Zoom call with a patient and later met her at a Calgary motel “for a non-medical purpose.”

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Cavilla admitted to consuming edibles before the call on March 18, 2021.

The CPSA said he was naked while on camera and did not provide the patient, who was being treated for mental health and addiction issues, with any medical advice.

Following the call, the CPSA said Cavilla sent her a number of text messages about his conduct.

“Dr. Cavilla wrote, ‘Sorry. No idea why you wann a see that. Chatltr’ [SIC] and ‘I used a bit today. Between you and me. I’m sorry.’

“On the same day, Dr. Cavilla appears to offer an explanation for his behavior and an apology in the following text message to [patient’s name redacted]: ‘Yeah Just horny as fucj Please Please Please don’t say anything to anybody’ [SIC].”

On April 9, 2021, the CPSA said Cavilla checked into the Econo Lodge Motel Village in Calgary.

The organization said he did so to meet with a patient for a non-medical purpose and ingested cocaine and was intoxicated in the presence of that patient.

Cavilla admitted to the allegations and said his actions were “serious and unprofessional.”

The CPSA agreed in its decision.

“The Tribunal finds Dr. Cavilla’s conduct fell far short of what is expected from a physician. As a regulated professional, Dr. Cavilla is expected to show up for appointments sober, properly attired, and focused on the patient’s medical issues. Communications should be carried out in a respectful manner and relate to the patient’s medical issues,” it said in its decision.

“The evidence clearly demonstrates that Dr. Cavilla and [patient’s name redacted] had an ongoing patient-physician relationship when the conduct referred to in the allegations occurred.

“The evidence and the admissions also demonstrate that Dr. Cavilla’s interactions with [patient’s name redacted] were highly personal.”

The CPSA said Cavilla’s conduct violated the organization’s standards of practice and ethics.

“As [patient’s name redacted]’s physician, Dr. Cavilla was obligated to assess and address his patient’s complex medical issues and to provide safe care, not to pursue a private agenda.

“He instead used his position of privilege and trust to engage in self-seeking behavior. Such self-seeking behavior on the part of one physician not only damages the patients exposed to this type of conduct, but it also damages patient trust in the entire system.”

As a result of the allegations, Cavilla’s practice permit was suspended for six months, but the CPSA considered that as ‘time served’ given that he had been out of practice for the entirety of the proceedings.

He was also ordered to complete a multi-disciplinary assessment to determine his fitness as a doctor and must have a CPSA-approved chaperone present at all of his interactions – virtual or in-person – with female patients.

Cavilla was also told to participate in the CPSA’s health and practice conditions monitoring program for a minimum of five years.