Windsor, Ont. paediatrician suspended for three months after inappropriate relationship with family member of long‑term patient
An Ontario tribunal recently dealt with a case involving a physician who had a romantic relationship with a patient’s family member, in violation of their college’s policies.
The Windsor paediatrician has been suspended for three months after Ontario’s medical regulator found she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a family member of a long‑term patient.
The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal ruled that Lenna Mary Morgan committed professional misconduct by engaging in conduct that was “disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional” and “conduct unbecoming a physician,” under Ontario Regulation 856/93 of the Medicine Act, 1991.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) lists Morgan’s member status as “Suspended” as of April 8, 2026. She has held an Independent Practice certificate with the CPSO since April 15, 1991, and is certified in paediatrics by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Violating of college policies
In a reprimand delivered by videoconference, the Tribunal said Morgan violated CPSO policies.
“As a registrant of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, you must adhere to its policies and guidelines. In your case, you have violated the College policies relating to Maintaining Appropriate Boundaries and Physician Treatment of Self, Family and Others Close to Them."
According to the reprimand, Morgan “provided comprehensive medical care to Patient A over an extended period while also developing a close personal and subsequent romantic relationship with Patient A’s close family member.”
According to the tribunal, “all physicians are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with their patients”. For a paediatrician, this “extends to the patient’s adult family members and caregivers, as, similar to the physician‑patient relationship, there also exists a power imbalance between the pediatrician and the parent or other caregivers.”
It said that failure to maintain boundaries “can cloud judgement and compromise safe and effective care”.
The misconduct “shows a serious lack of judgement and constitutes behaviour that we find to be disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional,” said the Tribunal.
A 23-year veteran WestJet employee who repeatedly questioned female coworkers about their sexual development and that of their children was engaging in sexual harassment, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled earlier this year.
Penalty and conditions
The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal ordered that Morgan’s certificate of registration be suspended for three months. It also directed that terms, conditions and limitations be placed on her certificate of registration.
Under those terms, Morgan must – at her own expense and within six months of the order – participate in and successfully complete individualized instruction in medical ethics and professionalism, including education in the management of boundaries. The instruction must be satisfactory to the CPSO, with an instructor approved by the College, who is required to provide a summative report to the CPSO indicating whether she has successfully completed the programme.
“It is expected that during your suspension you will reflect on the serious nature of your misconduct and that, upon return to practice, you will maintain clear and appropriate boundaries with your patients and those close to them,” the panel told Morgan.
The paediatrician was also ordered to pay $6,000 in costs to the CPSO by May 7, 2026.
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Morgan graduated from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in 1988 and has held a paediatrics specialty certificate since June 1, 1992. CPSO records show she holds hospital privileges at Windsor Regional Hospital and Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus and is the sole shareholder of Dr. Lenna Morgan Medicine Professional Corporation, authorised on April 30, 2012.
