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Ex-con MD's licence pulled

Doctor suspended here spent time in U.S. prison for firebombing house

By: Jen Skerritt

1/12/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 24

A Winnipeg doctor who has been suspended from practising in Manitoba had his medical licence revoked in California in 1998, after he had spent two years in a U.S. prison for firebombing a relative's house.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba confirmed Monday family physician and Westbrook Medical Clinic owner Dr. George Korol was suspended from practice in Manitoba in February. Registrar Dr. Bill Pope would not discuss the details or say why the college handed Korol an interim suspension, but said the doctor has not been formally disciplined.

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Pope said Korol has practised medicine in Winnipeg for about a decade. The Free Press has learned that decade began around the same time the Medical Board of California revoked Korol's licence.

It's unclear why Korol was able to get a licence in Manitoba while a U.S. medical board deemed him unfit to practise.

Medical Board of California documents reveal Korol was arrested in his Orange County office on July 4, 1995 and charged with attempted murder, arson and uttering terrorist threats.

A day earlier, an explosive had been tossed into his mother-in-law's house, where his wife was staying on the heels of their divorce proceedings. Neighbours put out the fire.

Public record documents show Korol was convicted of arson in the firebombing and also uttered repeated threats to harm his wife and her family -- including to chop off her head and cut out her father's tongue as he slept. He was sentenced in 1996 to five years in state prison and served close to two years behind bars.

He was forced to pay $1,850 and $150 in restitution.

The medical board revoked his licence, saying he engaged in "unprofessional conduct, dishonesty and corruption and conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions and duties of a physician and surgeon."

Manitoba's college was unable to comment on the matter when the information surfaced Monday afternoon.

"There are a lot of questions that need to be answered," said Arthur Schafer, University of Manitoba professor of ethics. Schafer said the college needs to explain whether it knew about Korol's history and why, if they did, they felt he did not pose a safety risk to the public. Schafer said it's possible the college ruled Korol had served his time and would not endanger Winnipeg patients.

However, if the college was unaware of Korol's criminal record and allowed him to practise, Schafer said, someone needs to be held accountable and explain how such a mistake was made.

"Is it part of their process to check for criminal records and did they do it in this case?" Schafer said. "Someone at the College of Physicians and Surgeons needs to reassure the public."

Records show Korol graduated from the University of Manitoba medical school in 1978 and was granted a medical licence in California in 1982.

Korol's Westbrook Medical Clinic is slated to close today for what employees say are "financial reasons," leaving four other physicians without a place to treat patients.

The clinic manager, who refused to give her name, said the closing has nothing to do with Korol's recent suspension from medicine. She said the remaining physicians will try to find clinic space in the same area so patients don't have to travel out of the neighbourhood to get an appointment.

jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca

 

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2009 A3

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24 Commentscomment icon

Its Will Ferrel!!

Yeah, CBC reports that he has two convictions for assaulting his wife in Manitoba. So he threatened to cut off California-wife's head and tried to light her on fire, and he beat up Manitoba-wife a few times, illegally possessed weapons... Sounds like just the kind of megalomaniac you'd want for a doctor. WHAT A LOSER!!

CBC reported he was jailed in Manitoba for assault and carrying a deadly weapon. Doesn't look like the jail time rehabilitated him.

The crime had nothing to do with his practice of medicine, he paid his debt to society, and should have been allowed to work again after that (as he was).

The focus of this story should be on why he was suspended presently. If it has something to do with care for patients, the public has a right to know.

Alleycat:

Attempted murder and arson are serious crimes. Great that the neighbor was able to put it out BEFORE the fire caused greater damage OR KILLED THE INTENDED VICTIM!!! The Dr. has a sinister past, no if's, and's, or but's about it. [edited]

As usual the media is making a big deal of not much. This big firebombing apparently caused $150 worth of damage and was brought under control by a neighbor with a garden hose. Add in a few ill-chosen words in the heat of the moment and here we are, one of the best family doctors in town out of business. He paid a heavy price for his mistake and I think everyone should let him learn from this and get on with his life. In the meantime I'm trying to find a doctor that has a clue of what he/she is doing and is willing to see new patients and having no luck. If I heard Dr. Korol was going to be back in business I'd be standing with my nose against the glass waiting. It may come as a big surprise that doctors are human and have problems in their personal life. He paid the price, let him get back to doing what he does exceptionally well. Someday some of you may fall off your high horse and wish you had a doctor with his abilities.

I wonder why the public does not have the right to know why this Doctor was suspended from practice in MB; so much for revealing his criminal conviction on his Physican Profile; and what kind of screening does the College have anyway; only the College of Physicians & Surgeons of MB has the answer...protection AGAIN! [edited]

Did he not spend the required time in jail? Did he not pay the restitution? Was he providing a quality service now or was he not--regardless of history. If the necessary precaustions were not taken when he came to Canada and obtained the work it seems rather strange that after 10 years of performing the duties to an acceptable standard it means nothing now. Much of the blame has to go to the health authorities and to immigration Canada.
Bottom line now is -Was he doing good work. Should we hang an albatross on someone's life forever.

Dr. Korol has been an amazing Dr. for me and I think that 'time served' means that he served his time for his crimes. Where is the concept of restorative justice in all this? I am still shocked by his crimes, but in the end he did serve his time for those crimes. At some point, one should be able to have the chance to move on and work. There are other convicted felons who served their time and who now work in our Province. Dr. Korol - you will be greatly missed and I hope that you will be given the another chance to come back and work for our Health system.

@ihaveacomment

Essentially, you're asking what his wife did to deserve such wrath. It's really not acceptable to shift blame onto the victim of a criminal act, just because you happen to like the criminal.

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