Quebec doctor and ex-politician suspended for his treatment of Lyme disease

MONTRÉAL — A doctor and former head of a Quebec political party has been suspended for six months from practising medicine by the province’s college of physicians for his approach to treating patients with Lyme disease.

Dr. Amir Khadir, who was spokesman for the leftist Québec solidaire party between 2006-12, had pleaded guilty to a dozen disciplinary charges filed against him in October.

The microbiologist and infectious-disease specialist had continued to prescribe Lyme disease patients with antibiotics for more than 28 days, despite having committed in 2020 to stop doing so.

The college had submitted evidence that 12 of his patients had received prolonged antibiotic therapy — an approach neither approved nor supported by the medical community.

Khadir, who spent a decade at the provincial legislature, had made a commitment in 2020 to cease the practice, but did not, leading to a new probe in 2024.

The disciplinary board noted that Khadir said he regrets not acting with more caution and that he should not have violated his 2020 commitment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025.