Josias Furstenberg, who had his medical licence revoked last year, refers to himself as 'Dr. Jof' in a series of online health coaching videos. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

Whats in a name?

College to investigate if ‘Dr. Jof’ is a risk to public

Jun 11, 2019 | 3:57 PM

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) will begin a probe to determine if a former Prince Albert doctor should be prosecuted under the Medical Professional Act.

The issue was raised by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) following a report about Josias Furstenberg. He lost his medical licence last year for having sex with two of his patients, among other charges of professional misconduct, but continues to call himself ‘Dr. Jof’ in a series of online videos he publishes offering health tips and advice.

“My medical qualifications are there, my experience is there. I am not misleading anybody that I’m practising medicine or I’m a licensed registered practitioner,” Furstenberg told paNOW last week.

The legal counsel for CPSS said the answer is not that black and white.

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“No matter what your experience may be, you may be an internationally trained person, but that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to use the title doctor,” Bryan Salte, who also acts as the college’s associate registrar, said.

The CPSS executive committee will investigate two issues of concern. One is whether the information provided causes people to believe they’re dealing with a licensed doctor. The other is whether diagnosis and treatment is being offered in return for some form of payment.

“Actually posting things on a website by itself is not an offence under the act,” Salte said. “The issue is, is the conduct something that went beyond that?”

Salte explained offering specific medical advice in order to gather patients is different than offering general advice with respect to health information.

“So, if I was to start advertising, whether I have a PHD or not, ‘My name is Dr. Salte and I can treat your ailment’, I am clearly committing an offence. But if I say my ‘My name is Dr. Salte and I know a whole lot about administrative law’ then I am not committing an offence,” he said.

Furstenberg said he launched his online health venture in an effort to make an honest living. He said he’d become almost unemployable after he lost his licence. Furstenberg told paNOW he had no interest in becoming a medical practitioner again.

There are cases in which other doctors who lost their medical licence have been reinstated. In fact, Salte said two physicians from Prince Albert who applied to have their licences restored were successful in doing so in the past. He said when dealing with inappropriate sexual behavior, applicants have to present proof of counselling that addressed the issue of appropriate sexual boundaries. They are also assessed by people who specifically address sexual abuse by professionals to determine if there is a likelihood to reoffend. Whether the applicant maintained their currency of knowledge while suspended is also considered by the council.

Furstenberg said he welcomed a probe from CPSS regarding his online health coaching.

If the executive committee determines inappropriate conduct by Furstenberg in their investigation, Salte said action could include a warning or actually prosecuting the matter in provincial court as an offence under the Medical Professional Act.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow