"QUEEN’S BENCH JUSTICE GRANT CURRIE WROTE: “THE MATERIAL (FILED WITH THE COURT) LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE COLLEGE HAS TREATED DR. TSATSI FAIRLY ... HAS TREATED HIM AS IT TREATS ANY OTHER PHYSICIAN AND, MOTIVATED BY ITS OBLIGATION TO THE PUBLIC, HAS TREATED HIM WITHOUT REGARD FOR HIS RACE, COLOUR OR NATIONALITY.’’"
REPORTER ANNE KYLE; REGINA LEADER-POST;
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Background: Saskatchewan is the province where Dr. Charles Smith was hired on a one-year contract with the expectation that he would eventually become a full-time employee - with the support of a colleague from medical school - to work as a pathologist after he left Ontario in disgrace. (Smith's contact was terminated after news of his employment became public);
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on May 31, 2009, that: "Questions of competency were raised 2½ years ago about the radiologist (Dr. Darius Tsatsi) whose work has led to an unprecedented review of 70,000 medical images, a spokesman for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan says."
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A story in the Saskatchewan Leader-Post provides another side to the allegations recently made at a press conference by Dr. Darius Tsatsi;
"REGINA — Contrary to Dr. L. Darius Tsatsi’s assertions, a Saskatchewan judge concluded in March that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan treated the Yorkton radiologist fairly," the story, by reporter Anne Kyle, begins;
"On Wednesday, Tsatsi — who is at the centre of one of the largest medical diagnostic audits in Canadian history — called a news conference to defend his reputation and his work, claiming he was being unfairly targeted by the college, which was biased against him," the story, which ran under the heading "Court finds Tsatsi treated fairly by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan," continues;
"“The Health Ministry, the regional authorities and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan ... have misinterpreted the facts, misled the public about my work, the nature of the investigation against me, my qualifications, certification and related facts,’’ Tsatsi said.
Responding to the allegations, the college’s legal counsel, Bryan Salte, noted a March 17 court decision concluded that, “Dr. Tsatsi had been treated fairly, that he was treated without bias, that he had no bases to complain and that the college had been quite fair.’’
Queen’s Bench Justice Grant Currie wrote: “The material (filed with the court) leads to the conclusion that the college has treated Dr. Tsatsi fairly ... has treated him as it treats any other physician and, motivated by its obligation to the public, has treated him without regard for his race, colour or nationality.’’
Salte noted that while the college did the initial quality assurance assessment of Tsatsi’s work that triggered the retrospective review, it was Sunrise Health Region and the ministry that ordered the audit of the more than 69,000 diagnostic images read by Tsatsi while employed by the region.
The college’s 2008 assessment of 103 of Tsatsi’s case files identified a number of variances in the interpretation of some of the diagnostic images. It was those differences in clinical opinions and the potential for misinterpretation of test results that prompted the region and ministry to call for a review to mitigate patient safety concerns.
Under the Medical Profession Act, the college is responsible for ensuring licensed doctors are competent in their skills and knowledge to practise in Saskatchewan.
The act stipulates that, in respect to proceedings before a competency hearing committee, “the protection of the public and safe and proper practice shall take priority over the rehabilitation, treatment and welfare of a person registered under the act.’’
While recognizing this process is stressful for Tsatsi, Salte said the college council has a duty to investigate and make a determination whether he is competent if it has reasonable grounds to believe his skills and knowledge are lacking.
As part of that process a competency committee is convened to investigate and hold a competency hearing to make that determination. It is then up to the council to decide what action should be taken."
No date has been set for Tsatsi’s competency hearing.
The story can be found at:
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Court+finds+Tsatsi+treated+fairly+College+Physicians+Surgeons+Saskatchewan/1821948/story.html
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
