Regina Physician Faces Six-Month Suspension for Professional Misconduct
Dr. James Coruzzi, a Regina-based physician, has received significant disciplinary action from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) following his admission to six charges of unprofessional conduct. The regulatory body, which oversees medical practice throughout the province, imposed the penalty after Coruzzi pleaded guilty to multiple violations involving medication prescribing and acquisition.
Details of the Disciplinary Action
The CPSS brought formal charges against Coruzzi on September 27, 2025, with the physician admitting to the allegations. On March 27, 2026, the college imposed a comprehensive penalty that includes a six-month suspension of Coruzzi's medical license, retroactive to November 7, 2025. In addition to the suspension, Coruzzi must complete an ethics course within six months and provide proof of completion to the regulatory body.
Financial penalties were also levied against the physician, requiring him to pay $12,711.35 in costs associated with the investigation and hearing process. The CPSS document outlining the penalty states that failure to make this payment by May 7, 2027, would result in another suspension until the amount is paid in full.
Nature of the Professional Violations
The six charges against Coruzzi spanned from 2023 to 2025 and revealed a pattern of misconduct involving medication management:
- The first charge documented that Coruzzi breached an existing undertaking by prescribing a specific medication and subsequently obtaining it for his personal use.
- A second charge indicated he violated a separate undertaking by arranging for other physicians to prescribe medication that he ultimately acquired for himself.
- The third charge involved prescribing medication to individuals without proper medical evaluation, patient-physician interaction, or documentation of attendance. These individuals were reportedly personal acquaintances of the physician.
- A fourth charge stated Coruzzi prescribed medication to seven individuals with the intention of obtaining the drugs for his own use on multiple occasions.
- The fifth charge revealed that Coruzzi approached physician colleagues and friends, requesting they prescribe monitored medications to individuals with whom he had personal relationships, without proper patient assessment.
The charge documents specifically noted that Coruzzi "provided false or misleading information to the physicians relating to the individuals' circumstances" while arranging to obtain these medications for his personal consumption.
Ongoing Requirements and Professional Consequences
Beyond the immediate penalties, the CPSS has accepted an undertaking signed by Coruzzi on March 23, 2026, which outlines several ongoing requirements for the physician. While the specific details of these requirements were not disclosed in the public documents, such undertakings typically represent written commitments to specific behavioral changes or monitoring arrangements.
The case highlights the serious consequences physicians face when violating professional standards, particularly regarding controlled substance prescribing practices. The CPSS maintains strict regulations to ensure patient safety and professional integrity within Saskatchewan's healthcare system.
This disciplinary action serves as a reminder of the ethical obligations physicians bear regarding medication management and the importance of maintaining appropriate professional boundaries in medical practice.
