UPDATE: DARIUS TSATSI; BARRED FROM PRACTICING MEDICINE IN SASKATCHEWAN; MESSAGE SENT TO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; SASKATCHEWAN NEWS NETWORK;

"AT A COUNCIL MEETING OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF SASKATCHEWAN FRIDAY AFTERNOON, TSATSI WAS RULED NOT COMPETENT TO BE LICENSED. ALTHOUGH TSATSI DECIDED BEFORE FRIDAY TO LET HIS LICENSE EXPIRE VOLUNTARILY, THE COLLEGE'S ASSOCIATE REGISTRAR, BRYAN SALTE, SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO SEND A MESSAGE.

"IT'S NOT JUST A MESSAGE TO THE COLLEGE (IN SASKATCHEWAN), BUT TO ANY OTHER PLACE DR. TSATSI MAY WISH TO PRACTICE," SALTE SAID."

REPORTER JASON WARICK; SASKATCHEWAN NEWS NETWORK;

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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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"REGINA — Dr. Darius Tsatsi, the Yorkton radiologist whose questionable work was subjected to a massive review, has been barred from practising medicine in Saskatchewan," the story by reporter Jason Warick published earlier today under the heading "Yorkton radiologist Dr. Darius Tsatsi barred from practising in Saskatchewan" begins.

"At a council meeting of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan Friday afternoon, Tsatsi was ruled not competent to be licensed," the story continues.

"Although Tsatsi decided before Friday to let his license expire voluntarily, the college's associate registrar, Bryan Salte, said it was important for the council to send a message.

"It's not just a message to the college (in Saskatchewan), but to any other place Dr. Tsatsi may wish to practice," Salte said.

Tsatsi was not present at the council hearing. His lawyer, Michelle Ouellette, said the process has been stressful for him, but she took no issue with the process or findings.

Ouellette said she's not sure what Tsatsi plans to do in the future.

Last year, the Yorkton radiologist signed an agreement with the college that he would not practice until today's council meeting.

Tsatsi voluntarily suspended his practice when the Ministry of Health and the Sunrise Health Region ordered a review of more than 69,000 radiology tests that he had read. The competency review was ordered after the College of Physicians and Surgeons notified the region of serious concerns about possible interpretations.

The college raised the concerns following a 2008 quality-assurance audit of 103 randomly selected diagnostic tests interpreted by Tsatsi between May 28 and Nov. 14, 2008.

On Nov. 18, 2009, the region released a mid-point update on its independent patient safety intervention review of the radiology tests examined by Tsatsi during the five years he worked for the region.

Of the 39,711 exams re-read to that date, just under 950 diagnostic images — or 2.38 per cent of the diagnostic exams perused by Tsatsi — were deemed to have enough of a variance in interpretation to potentially affect patient care."

The story can be found at:

http://www.leaderpost.com/entertainment/Yorkton+radiologist+Darius+Tsatsi+barred+from+practising+Saskatchewan/2500025/story.html

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;