Ottawa Physician Ordered Into Ethics Training for Sharing Views on COVID-19 Vaccine

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An Ottawa physician has been ordered to take a professional training course in ethics and boundaries at his own expense after he was disciplined for sharing his opinion on the COVID-19 vaccine with patients.

Dr. Miklos Matyas, an Ottawa area ear and throat specialist, lost his appeal of a disciplinary decision by the Complaints Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario on March 7.

The appeal decision upheld the requirement for Dr. Matyas to attend the course, as well as appear before the committee to be cautioned to “adhere to and fulfill the professional and ethical codes of being a regulated health professional, in particular, in his communications with patients, colleagues, and the College.”

At the appearance, the committee will also caution him “to recognize when one’s own values, biases, or perspectives may have an impact on interactions with patients, colleagues, and the College, and the quality of care.”

A date for that appearance has not been set.

The investigation by the regulatory board followed complaints against Dr. Matyas by two patients, the document says.

One of the patients accused him of “spreading junk science to the public about COVID-19” and “ informed her that she did not need to wear a mask and proceeded to outline why masks were unnecessary and ineffective.”

In response, Dr. Matyas said his intention had been to “improve the Respondent’s understanding of mask issues in order to assist her in using masks appropriately.”

The second complaint said that the doctor pushed propaganda about anti-vaccine beliefs, and also recommended ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

Dr. Matyas said that the patient likely felt “cognitive dissonance” during the discussion, which challenged his beliefs about the vaccine.

“When people are presented with evidence that challenges their core belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance,” the physician told the committee. “Because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that does not fit in with the core belief.”

He also denied spreading misinformation to the patient.

“Everything I quoted to him are published facts and I encourage [the Respondent] to develop a little scientific curiosity and humility about what he thinks he knows in the field of medical science.”

In his appeal to the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board, Dr. Matyas said that the public was protected when physicians have autonomy and free expression of their professional opinions.

“Promoting censorship of dissenting expert clinicians in a rapidly evolving public health crisis is not in the public’s interest,” he said.

During the pandemic, Dr. Matyas had his privileges temporarily suspended by two hospitals for not complying with the vaccination policy at the facilities, according to the appeal documents.