The Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons forbids doctors in the province from treating family relations in extended are situations. This includes in-laws. However, this did not stop Dr. Jerry Tenenbaum who is a veteran doctor from ignoring this established medical ethic for good reason. Treating close family relations compromises the ability of a doctor to be objective in making a medical assessment. It also might make a doctor feel less obliged to do his or her job well. The patient who is being treated by a family relation might feel obliged to keeping his or her doctor who is a relative even though the doctor may not be helping the patient.

It is this dynamic which manifested itself when Dr. Tenenbaum inappropriately treated the mother of his daughter-in-law. Now this formerly highly energetic "super-woman" can no longer talk, write or walk thanks to Dr. Tenenbaum ignoring the guidelines of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.