UPDATE; TAINTED MEDICAL TESTS; SASKATCHEWAN; TSATSI GRANTED ADJOURNMENT OF SENTENCING HEARING; CANNOT PRACTICE PENDING ULTIMATE DECISION;

"TSATSI'S WORK WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION BACK IN THE SPRING WHEN MISTAKE WERE FOUND IN DOZENS OF HIS CASES. OVER 47 000 RADIOLOGY EXAMS WERE PLACED UNDER REVIEW. THE RESULTS ON JUST OVER HALF ARE IN. BUT TSATSI'S LEGAL REPRESENTATION, MICHELLE OULETTE, WANTS TO SEE ALL OF THEM BEFORE ANY DECISIONS AFFECTING HER CLIENT ARE HANDED DOWN."

REPORTER CHRIS CARR: NEWSTALK 650.

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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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"Dr. Darius Tsatsi wants to see the results on a massive review of his work before any decisions are made involving his fate," reporter Chris Carr's Newstalk 680 story begins, under the heading "A Saskatchewan radiologist wants to wait."

"A ruling was expected today on whether Tsatsi's should have his license revoked, or suspended until he upgrades his skills," the story continues.

"Tsatsi's work was called into question back in the spring when mistake were found in dozens of his cases. Over 47 000 radiology exams were placed under review. The results on just over half are in. But Tsatsi's Legal Representation, Michelle Oulette, wants to see all of them before any decisions affecting her client are handed down.

"I'm going to take the next period of time to see whether there is any more information that will go along with it that will add to the ability to use it, or to determine its value in this process."

Oulette says she wants to see how the results might impact the outcome.

"Because radiology is not just a science, but a bit of an art, there is, by its very nature, interpretation involved. There's always going to be some variance, depending on who's looking at the film."

An adjournment has been granted under the condition Tsatsi not practice before the review panel comes back with their decision. That is expected to happen sometime in January."


The story can be found at:

http://www.newstalk650.com/story/20091120/25674

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;