Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal has officially revoked the medical licence of Toronto psychiatrist Dr. Celeste Jean Thirlwell following a disciplinary hearing regarding her professional conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a decision released on February 11, 2026, the tribunal found that Dr. Thirlwell issued 1,425 medical exemption letters for vaccinations, masking, and testing requirements over a brief three-month window in late 2021. The tribunal concluded that she acted for personal profit, charging first-time patients $300 per letter while bypassing the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
The investigation revealed a highly organized, “word-of-mouth” operation where patients were sent templates describing various medical concerns—such as severe anxiety or fear of allergic reactions—to justify their requests. On her busiest days, Dr. Thirlwell reportedly conducted over 100 “patient encounters” via telephone, often while in public spaces. In one instance, a fellow passenger on a VIA Rail train overheard her loudly discussing exemption details over the phone for two hours. The tribunal noted that Dr. Thirlwell, whose specialty was in sleep medicine and psychiatry, possessed no specific training in immunology or infectious diseases and failed to consult with her patients’ primary care physicians.
The tribunal’s decision to revoke her registration was influenced by what they termed a “lack of knowledge, skill, and judgment,” as well as her refusal to participate in the latter stages of the disciplinary process. Despite initial involvement through counsel in 2024, Dr. Thirlwell stopped responding to correspondence and missed several scheduled hearings in 2025. Along with the permanent loss of her medical licence, she has been ordered to pay a penalty of $10,370. The sleep clinic where she was formerly employed has confirmed she is no longer on their staff, marking a definitive end to her medical career in Ontario.
