A chiropractor from B.C.’s Lower Mainland has been placed under practice limits amid an investigation into a complaint that he recommended changing a young patient’s prescription epilepsy medication. Chiropractors are not allowed to prescribe medication in most countries around the world, including Canada. The College of Complimentary Health Professionals of B.C. said it began investigating the complaint against Dr. Faraz Moussavi-Zadeh in April, and has since issued a summary protection order against him. In a public notice, the regulator said the alleged recommendation to change the minor’s anti-seizure medication was “potentially misleading, having been written on a PaRX notepad,” and was also “based on the patient’s physical presentation, rather than the reported concerns about medication side effects.” The allegation has not been proven, and remains under investigation. In the meantime, Moussavi-Zadeh is barred from using a PaRX prescription form as part of his chiropractic practice, or “any similar form that has indicators that could reasonably mislead a patient as to the nature of the form,” according to the notice. That includes forms with a reference to “Rx.” The summary protection order also prohibits Moussavi-Zadeh from recommending changes to any patient’s prescription medication. The College of Complimentary Health Professionals of B.C. noted the order was issued “without deciding the merits of the allegations,” but said a panel from the regulator’s investigation committee determined the restrictions are “necessary and proportionate to address the identified risks and safeguard patient safety” as an interim measure.
