Anti-fraud physician cleared

The professional organization representing doctors in Ontario dismissed a case against Canadian anti-fraud advocate Terry Polevoy, in which the complainant, a psychologist, argued that Polevoy's criticism of her research on bipolar disorder constituted harassment. The decision, according to experts, raises questions about when academic criticism crosses the line.It's a unique decision that originates out of an equally unique case. In 2004, Bonnie Kaplan, a psychologist from the University of Calgary, filed a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), directed against the methods Polevoy used to criticize her research on whether a vitamin-mineral supplement called EMPowerplus treats bipolar disorder. CPSO twice dismissed the complaint. Last month, the dismissal of Kaplan's complaint was upheld upon review by the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), said Maureen Baker, a review officer for HPARB. (HPARB is an independent governmental board that reviews the complaint decisions of...