Dr. Errol Norohna – June 2025

This matter came before a Panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Optometrists of Ontario on June 18, 2025 via videoconference.

THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE FOUND THAT:

Dr. Noronha committed an act or acts of professional misconduct as provided by paragraph 51(1)(c) of the Health Professions Procedural Code which is Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, C.18, and defined in the following paragraphs of Ontario Regulation 119/94:

1. paragraph 1.1 contravened a term, condition or limitation to which the member's certificate of registration is subject;
2. paragraph 1.36 contravened by act or omission, the Act, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 or the regulations under either of those Acts; and
3. paragraph 1.39 in that he engaged in conduct or performed an act that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional or unethical.

THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDERED:

1. That Dr. Noronha be required to appear before the Panel to be reprimanded at the conclusion of the discipline hearing.
2. That the Registrar be directed to suspend the certificate of registration of Dr. Noronha for a period of 6 months to commence on June 19, 2025.
3. That the Registrar be directed to impose terms, conditions or limitations on Dr. Noronha's certificate of registration that following the suspension he shall not be permitted to return to practise until the following have occurred:
4. he has successfully completed a practice assessment;
5. That the Registrar be directed to impose the following terms, conditions and limitations on Dr. Noronha's certificate of registration upon his return to practise:
6. That he complete a practice coaching program with Cleverpoints in the area of professionalism and governance as follows:
   1. he shall complete a minimum of ten (10) hours of practice coaching;
   2. the practice coach shall meet with Dr. Noronha to discuss the findings at the hearing, his responsibilities to the College as a registrant, and professionalism;
   3. the practice coach will determine what if any additional reading and review of materials Dr. Noronha will be required to undertake in preparation for the practice coaching/review sessions;
   4. the practice coach shall provide a report to the College at the conclusion of the confirming the completion of the coaching and identifying any areas of concern if any;
   5. Noronha shall correct any areas of concern identified by the practice coach and shall complete any additional training or steps recommended by the practice coach;
   6. The practice coach shall provide a further report to the College after reviewing any additional training or steps completed by Dr. Noronha;
   7. Should the subsequent report be unfavourable, the matter will be referred to the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC); and
   8. the practice coaching shall be at Dr. Noronha's expense.
   9. Dr. Noronha shall pay the College $10,000 in partial costs. He shall make four payments of $2500 every three months upon his return to practice.

 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Discipline Committee delivered the reprimand.