Publication Notice: Winnie Sung

As per Section 39.3 of the Health Professions Act the following public notice is given:

Name of Registrant

Winnie Sung (“Registrant”)

Action Taken

The Inquiry Committee requested and obtained a consent order from the Registrant under ss. 33(6)(c) and 36(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) of the Health Professions Act. Under the terms of the consent order, Ms. Sung is required to:

1. consent to a written reprimand in relation to her unethical conduct of submitting false prescriptions to a dispensary service, using the prescription pads and signatory stamps of her dentist employers without authorization, and failing to discharge her duty to cooperate with the College’s investigation.
2. undertake not to apply for registration with the College for a period of ten years and 47 days from the date of this order.
3. undertake prior to applying for registration following the expiration of the period set out in paragraph 2, she must first: (a) submit a proposed supervision plan for approval in writing to the College; and (b) successfully complete the CDHBC Clinical Examination within the preceding six months prior to submitting her application for registration to ensure that her skills are current on re-entry.
4. undertake to notify the Registrar of the College within five (5) business days of submitting her application to any organization that regulates licensure or registration of dental hygienists in another jurisdiction, and authorizes the disclosure of the terms of the consent order and the written reprimand by the Registrar to such other organizations to which she has applied for licensure or registration.
5. undertake, on reinstatement, to practice under the supervision of a registered dental hygienist for three years, the supervision is to be at her cost, and the supervisor must be approved in writing in advance by the Registrar.

Reasons for Action

The Inquiry Committee initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint from a dentist who formerly employed Ms. Sung alleging that Ms. Sung had used the Complainant’s signature stamps to produce prescriptions for herself and others. During the course of the investigation, the Inquiry Committee confirmed that the Registrant had: (a) engaged in unprofessional and unethical conduct by submitting false prescriptions for herself and others; (b) engaged in unprofessional and unethical conduct by using equipment and supplies from the dental clinics where she worked (such as signatory stamps and prescription pads) without their knowledge or permission; (c) failed to maintain adequate or accurate clinical records in accordance with the Practice Standard Policies by failing to note prescriptions issued to the clients; (d) engaged in conduct that was outside her scope of practice as a dental hygienist by purporting to issue prescriptions; and (e) failed to cooperate with the College’s investigation because of her repeated failures to respond to the numerous requests from the inspector and Inquiry Committee for information.