College issues consensual reprimand to Dr. Richard Baron Stern

On February 21, 2006 Dr. Richard Stern of Kentville , Nova Scotia consented to a reprimand issued by Investigation Committee “A” of the College.

The consent reprimand arose from a complaint filed by the family members of patient X, who had been admitted to an intensive care unit of a hospital. With respect to the conduct of Dr. Stern in his care of patient X, Investigation Committee “A” determined that a reprimand was due to the following:

1. With respect to a morning visit made by Dr. Stern to patient X, Dr. Stern failed to document this visit;

2. With respect to a subsequent visit by Dr. Stern to patient X, Dr. Stern failed to appropriately document this visit and in particular to include his findings and his plans for the patient;

3. For a three hour period, Dr. Stern failed to document any interaction with patient X;

4. Between the hours of 0815 to 1105 he failed to attend on a timely basis to patient X; and

5. Despite patient X’s symptoms of critically low blood pressure and low urinary output, there was no evidence of a fluid challenge by Dr. Stern to address these symptoms and no use of invasive monitoring such as central venous pressure monitoring, arterial cannulation, or pulmonary artery catheter.

The Committee’s decision constitutes a finding of professional misconduct/professional incompetence that will be entered on Dr. Stern’s formal discipline record.

A copy of Dr. Stern’s reprimand is available HERE.