An Ottawa-based foot specialist had his licence revoked after he admitted to treating clients with an implant he manufactured, which wasn’t approved by Health Canada, and used without their full knowledge or consent.The College of Chiropodists has identified 25 people who were treated with Pierre Dupont’s foot stent — an implant used to treat flat feet or fallen arches — between 2014 and 2016, as opposed to the Health Canada approved stent known as HyProCure. The college also found that before procedures, clients signed a consent form that indicated the HyProCure stent would be inserted, when in fact Dupont implanted his own stent during surgery.He was also found to have failed to keep an adequate record of the procedures from initial examinations to post-op station visits.This was the second time Dupont has had his licence revoked. In 2004, he had a disciplinary hearing in front of the provincial body that regulates dentists, which found he had failed to meet the standards of care.At his disciplinary hearing Tuesday afternoon, Dupont, 60, admitted to several counts of professional misconduct and apologized to the patients and the college for his actions. “It was inconsistent with my own belief that all patients should be treated professionally and with respect,” Dupont told the hearing. “You have a right to be angry.”According to the records filed at the hearing, Dupont didn’t believe he needed to get Health Canada approval for his stent because “the nature, composition and design was the same,” and he didn’t have an intention to sell his stent to other health-care professionals. Clients at the hearing made impact statements to the board to illustrate the negative effects of Dupont’s stent on their day-to-day lives. Erika Brathwaite, who initially came forward with her case to the CBC, told the college how Dupont’s stent has completely changed her life, putting a s ...
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