Dr. Matthew Strauss — a controversial, incumbent medical officer of health in Southern Ontario — is suing Queen’s University and its head of medicine for more than $600,000, saying he had no choice but to resign from his post at university because of “malicious, aggressive, condescending and defamatory statements” against him.
The claim, filed Oct. 20, alleges that Dr. Steven Archer, Strauss’ direct supervisor and head of medicine at Queen’s in Kingston, Ont., constantly berated Strauss over his public criticism of public health measures against COVID -19, as blocking .
None of the allegations have been proven in court and no defense has been presented.
Queen’s University told CBC Hamilton it could not comment on the case, and Archer did not respond to requests for comment. Strauss declined to speak on the record about the lawsuit.
Strauss, the acting medical officer of health for Haldimand and Norfolk counties, has been criticized for his public comments before.
He before that said on social media he’d rather give his kids COVID-19 on a Happy Meal, and when he was initially appointed as acting medical officer of health in September 2021, the Ontario Liberals Named to the Minister of Health to veto his appointment.
Earlier this year, he wrote articles to explain his criticism of masking and vaccine mandates.
“Be a doctor, not a publicist”
Strauss worked at Queen’s as an assistant professor of medicine from July 2019 to November 2021 and had privileges as a general internal medicine physician and as an intensive care unit specialist at Kingston General Hospital, according to the lawsuit.
He previously served as an assistant clinical professor at McMaster University and as the medical director of critical care at Guelph General Hospital.
Steve Archer is Head of Medicine at Queen’s University. (Steve Archer/Twitter)
The claim says Archer criticized Strauss between August and October 2020 for what Strauss said on social media and in news articles.
“The tone and content of Dr. Archer’s communications caused Dr. Strauss to become upset and anxious,” the claim states.
Strauss went on leave from his doctoral program in October, according to the statement, but it is unclear when he returned.
He faced more criticism between December and February, according to the claim.
“Your professed love of free speech is more self-centered than in service to our patients or interns,” reads an email from Archer to Strauss and five others on Dec. 23, 2020, according to the lawsuit.
“You were hired to be a doctor, not a publicist.”
The claim said that despite the criticism, Strauss had a “thoroughly positive” annual performance review in March 2021.
About a month later, the claim said Archer and others at Queen sent correspondence on April 22, 2021, saying Strauss’ public comments were “dangerous and misleading” and his behavior “threatened to endanger patients “.
It also said he “irresponsibly” encouraged people to breach public health measures while “sowing distrust in public health institutions”.
Strauss suffered “significant stress”
“Dr. Archer further threatened Dr. Strauss, noting that his medical license could be in jeopardy and his hospital privileges could be revoked if he continued to speak out on matters of significant public concern regarding the COVID- 19 and its positions on blocking and other restrictions.”
The claim states that when Strauss suggested that the university was not acting in good faith toward him, Archer told Strauss that his contract would not be renewed, leaving Strauss with no choice but to leave the institution.
Queen’s University is in Kingston, Ontario. (Frederic Pepin/CBC)
Strauss’s suit says the defamatory comments harmed his relationships, his job prospects and his ability to earn more money.
He said it also caused him “significant stress, anxiety, emotional pain and suffering”.
Strauss resigned on Nov. 19, 2021, even though his contract was set to expire on June 30, 2022, according to the claim.
Along with asking for at least $600,000 — which includes a combination of general, moral and punitive damages — the lawsuit is asking Queen for lost wages and benefits.
The suit also requires the defendants to remove any defamatory words about Strauss from all media under their control and not to publish any other defamatory words about him.
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