Dr. Amir Khadir Faces Six-Month Suspension Over Controversial Lyme Disease Treatments
Quebec’s medical community is abuzz following the disciplinary decision against Dr. Amir Khadir, a well-known physician and former politician. Dr. Khadir has been handed a six-month suspension by the Disciplinary Council of the Collège des médecins du Québec for administering long-term antibiotic treatments to 12 patients diagnosed with Lyme disease, treatments deemed controversial by the professional body.
A Guilty Plea and Professional Breach
The decision, publicly released this Wednesday, stems from Dr. Khadir’s guilty plea last October to 12 charges brought by the Collège des médecins. These charges primarily involved contraventions of Article 122 of the Code of Ethics of Physicians and Article 59.2 of the Professional Code. At the heart of the matter was Dr. Khadir’s practice of prescribing antibiotic therapy lasting more than 28 days for patients suffering from Lyme disease, a duration often outside established medical consensus in Quebec.
The Ongoing Scrutiny and Broken Promise
Dr. Khadir, a specialist in microbiology-infectious diseases who practiced at the Pierre-Le-Gardeur Hospital’s outpatient clinic and served as a spokesperson for Québec solidaire from 2008 to 2012, had been under the Collège des médecins’ radar since 2020 regarding his treatment protocols for Lyme disease. In a pivotal moment on June 8, 2020, during an initial preliminary investigation, he committed to “cease prescribing antibiotic therapy for a duration of more than 28 days to new patients diagnosed with Lyme disease.” This moratorium was intended to last until a clinical protocol was approved or if long-term treatment gained “minimal consensus within the medical and scientific community in Quebec.”
However, an alert received by the Collège des médecins on January 15, 2024, indicated that Dr. Khadir had continued to prescribe these contested treatments to three patients. On September 25, he admitted to not respecting his June 2020 commitment, acknowledging its clear terms.
Dr. Khadir’s Defence and the Council’s Verdict
In his defence, Dr. Khadir explained his extensive, albeit unsuccessful, efforts to secure research funding for these treatments. He later submitted a list claiming to have prescribed prolonged antibiotic therapy to 150 patients. Following verification, the Collège des médecins concluded that Dr. Khadir had violated his commitment in ten patient files, leading to the 12 charges.
The analysis revealed that for all patients in question, even when Lyme disease tests were negative in some cases, Dr. Khadir prescribed antibiotics, often with renewals. Expressing regret for his actions, Dr. Khadir stated he had taken steps to inform public authorities about the “medical wandering” faced by individuals with Lyme disease, highlighting the “lack of dedicated resources and the harmful consequences of these conditions.”
Before the Disciplinary Council, Dr. Khadir maintained that “none of his patients experienced adverse effects following his prolonged antibiotic treatment, and that the management of his patients was always meticulous.” He also affirmed that he ceased prescribing long-term antibiotics in December 2023.
While the Collège des médecins sought a 12-month suspension for each of the 12 charges, Dr. Khadir suggested a one-month suspension. The Disciplinary Council ultimately opted for a six-month suspension, to be served concurrently, meaning the total duration is six months. Dr. Khadir was also ordered to pay all associated costs in the case.
Understanding Lyme Disease and Treatment Guidelines
Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, presents significant diagnostic and treatment challenges. Official guidelines, such as those from the Public Health Agency of Canada, typically recommend specific antibiotic regimens and durations. The debate surrounding chronic Lyme disease and its treatment often pits patient advocacy against established medical protocols, a tension exemplified in Dr. Khadir’s case.
This decision by the Collège des médecins du Québec underscores the importance of adhering to professional guidelines and the ongoing vigilance required to ensure patient safety within the complex landscape of medical practice.
