Lyme Disease | Amir Khadir Suspended for Six Months

A recent disciplinary ruling in Quebec has resulted in Dr. Amir Khadir, a specialist in microbiology and infectious diseases, being suspended for six months due to his treatment protocols for Lyme disease. The decision was made public on November 28, 2023, after Dr. Khadir admitted to 12 violations concerning the ethics of his medical practice.

Background on Dr. Amir Khadir

Dr. Khadir has been a notable figure, serving as a spokesperson for Québec solidaire from 2008 to 2012. He has worked at the outpatient clinic of Hôpital Pierre-Le-Gardeur. Since 2020, he has faced scrutiny from the Collège des médecins for his prescribing practices related to Lyme disease treatments.

Disciplinary Findings

In October 2023, Dr. Khadir pleaded guilty to charges primarily involving violations of Article 122 of the Code of Ethics for physicians and Article 59.2 of the Professional Code. Most notably, he administered long-term antibiotic treatments exceeding 28 days to patients diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Violation Details

• In June 2020, as part of a preliminary investigation, Dr. Khadir agreed to stop prescribing long-term antibiotics for new Lyme disease patients.
• This agreement stipulated that he could resume such treatments only after clinical protocols were approved by a research committee.
• Despite this, on January 15, 2024, the Collège des médecins received a report indicating he prescribed these controversial treatments to three patients.

Consequences of the Ruling

During the disciplinary proceedings, evidence showed Dr. Khadir failed to adhere to his commitment made in June 2020. He acknowledged this lapse and expressed remorse. He stated that he had tried to secure research funding but had no success. He later claimed to have treated up to 150 patients with long-term antibiotics.

Outcomes and Penalties

• The disciplinary council ruled against Dr. Khadir, imposing a six-month suspension rather than the 12 months requested by the Collège des médecins for each violation.
• The suspension will be served concurrently, resulting in a total of six months.
• Dr. Khadir is also responsible for covering all associated costs.

Despite the disciplinary measures, Dr. Khadir maintained that no patient experienced adverse effects from his prolonged antibiotic treatments. He stated he ceased prescribing such treatments as of December 2023.