A Windsor pediatrician who accessed newborns' hospital records to offer circumcision services has been suspended for eight months following a discipline ruling.
Discipline Tribunal Decision
The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal found Dr. Omar Afandi committed professional misconduct, describing his actions as “disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional,” according to the decision released June 3.
The tribunal ordered Afandi to serve an eight-month suspension starting June 4, attend a reprimand and practise under conditions once his licence is reinstated. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in costs.
Investigation and Privacy Violation
The ruling follows a decision last year by Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, which found Afandi improperly accessed electronic hospital records of newborn boys and contacted their parents to offer circumcision services through a private clinic, WE Kidz Pediatrics.
The investigation began in 2024 after Windsor Regional Hospital flagged unusual searches in a shared electronic health record system used by hospitals across southwestern Ontario. Dozens of parents later reported being contacted by the clinic shortly after giving birth.
According to the province’s privacy watchdog, Afandi searched patient records using details such as date of birth and sex, then used the information to reach out directly to families.
Penalties and Consequences
The privacy commissioner fined Afandi $5,000 and WE Kidz Pediatrics $7,500 for violating the province’s health privacy law and ordered the clinic to strengthen its safeguards.
Afandi’s hospital privileges were revoked last year following the findings.
The discipline tribunal said written responses for its decision will be released in the coming weeks.
