On April 23, 2020, Mr. David Kurbis, RSLP, entered into an Undertaking and Consent Agreement, pursuant to ss. 33(6)(c) and 36(1) of the Health Professions Act. The College’s Inquiry Committee (the “Committee”) investigated Mr. Kurbis regarding competency concerns.
Background
Mr. Kurbis is a College registrant and speech language pathologist. In February 2018, the College received reports concerning Mr. Kurbis which the registrar delivered to the Inquiry Committee. Mr. Kurbis agreed to non-practising status pending investigation, which investigation led to the Inquiry Committee having concerns regarding his practice competency.
In the course of its investigation, the Inquiry Committee retained experts to evaluate the grounds for concern. Mr. Kurbis’s first legal counsel objected to a joint investigation that might have expedited the investigation and reduced expert expenses. However, Mr. Kurbis later retained second legal counsel, who advised that Mr. Kurbis had not objected to a joint investigation and had apparently not been copied or provided with communications between the College and first legal counsel.
Resolution
The Inquiry Committee resolved to dispose of matters pursuant to ss. 33(6)(c) and 36(1) of the HPA by requiring that Mr. Kurbis undertake or consent to certain practice conditions. The practice conditions included a period of supervised practice upon his return to work; reporting by his supervisor to the Inquiry Committee; and disclosure of the supervision to patients.
On December 18, 2020, Mr. Kurbis successfully completed the required supervised practice earlier than the time allocated for a full assessment.
Due to special circumstances, the Inquiry Committee agreed for the College to be partially indemnified for its investigation, expert, and supervision expenses, and done so through a series of instalment payments.
This resolution is consistent with the College’s mandate to serve and protect the public.