"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;
Showing posts with label tsatsi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tsatsi. Show all posts
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
UP-DATE; SASKATCHEWAN; FLAWED X-RAYS, CT SCANS AND MAMMOGRAPHS; HEALTH REGION SAYS PRELIMINARY REVIEW SHOWS DISCREPANCIES IN TSATSI'S RADIOGRAPHY;

"THE REVIEW OF MORE THAN 69,000 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES READ BY TSATSI DURING HIS FIVE YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE HEALTH REGION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST RADIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING REVIEWS IN CANADIAN HISTORY.
KIRWAN SAID MORE THAN 12,000 EXAMS HAVE BEEN SENT BY THE HEALTH REGION TO BE RE-READ BY RADIOLOGISTS IN REGINA AND EDMONTON. REPORTS HAVE NOW BEEN RECEIVED ON 2,550 EXAMS WITH DIFFERENCE OF INTERPRETATIONS NOTED IN 312 EXAMS. AS THE REPORTS ARE RECEIVED THE HEALTH REGION IS FORWARDING THE INFORMATION TO THE FAMILY PHYSICIANS AND NOTIFYING PATIENTS, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE IN INTERPRETATION."
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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"Preliminary findings of a third-party audit of Yorkton radiologist Dr. L. Darius Tsatsi's diagnostic work has disclosed that differences of interpretation in 116 of 312 exams were considered to have the potential to affect patient care," the Leader-Post story published earlier today begins;
""We may never know how the differences of interpretation could have potentially affected health outcomes really. We may never really know that in any real true sense,'' Sunrise Health Region CEO Joe Kirwan said on Monday," the story, under the headline "Preliminary review shows discrepancies in Dr. Tsatsi's radiology exams", continues."
""If you have got chronic or ongoing health issues, you are going to be under constant care anyway. If it is episodic or a one-time thing, it may have already been cured and we won't know that if there is any lingering effects. We may never know that."
Kirwan said he was not privy to what medical conditions were associated with the files that came back flagged as potentially putting patient care at risk.
The health region and the Ministry of Health ordered the review May 20 following notification by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan of serious concerns about possible misinterpretations. The college, the medical licensing regulator, raised the concerns following a quality assurance audit last year of 103 of Tsatsi's case files, which revealed a significant difference of clinical interpretation.
The review of more than 69,000 diagnostic images read by Tsatsi during his five years of employment with the health region is one of the largest radiology diagnostic imaging reviews in Canadian history.
Kirwan said more than 12,000 exams have been sent by the health region to be re-read by radiologists in Regina and Edmonton. Reports have now been received on 2,550 exams with difference of interpretations noted in 312 exams. As the reports are received the health region is forwarding the information to the family physicians and notifying patients, even when there is no change in interpretation.
"I fully understand the concern of individuals and family members and am very sorry for the anxiety caused by this review," Kirwan said.
"Our normal health services continue throughout the review and we recommend that people not hesitate to see their family physician if they have tests that are part of the review and they are not feeling well."
Any patient who has to have a repeat of a diagnostic test because the initial exam diagnosis was questionable will have their exams expedited, Kirwan said.
The process of reviewing the remaining exams will continue in reverse chronological order from 2009 going back to 2004."
The article can be found at:
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Preliminary+review+shows+discrepencies+Tsatsi+radiology+exams+Sunrise+Health+Region/1833520/story.html
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
UP-DATE; SASKATCHEWAN; FLAWED X-RAYS, CT SCANS AND MAMMOGRAPHS; DR. TSATSI'S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST COLLEGE; OTHER DOCTORS RALLY TO HIS DEFENCE;

"WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE REGION, THE MINISTRY AND THE COLLEGE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT PATIENT SAFETY, THE DOCTORS STATED THEY BELIEVE THE WAY THE MATTER WAS HANDLED “WAS PREJUDICIAL AND DAMAGING TO ALL PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIPS IN THE REGION.”
“WE ARE LEFT WITH THE PERCEPTION OF AN UNSEEMLY EAGERNESS TO INFLICT PUNISHMENT AND PENALTIES. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE MATTER (OF TSATSI’S COMPETENCE) IS STILL SUBJUDICE. IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME FOR ANY PHYSICIAN IN SASKATCHEWAN TO FEEL SAFE FROM PERSECUTION BY AN OVERZEALOUS BUREAUCRACY,’’ THE STATEMENT SAID."
REPORTER ANNE KYLE: 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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The support expressed by other Saskatchewan doctors for Dr. Darius Tsatsi is the subject of a story by reporter Anne Kyle published in the Leader-Post on July 24 under the heading, "Dozens of doctors in Sunrise Health Region show support for Dr. L. Darius Tstasi."
"REGINA — Some doctors in the Sunrise Health Region have thrown their support behind Yorkton radiologist Dr. L. Darius Tsatsi whose diagnostic work is being scrutinized as part of a massive medical diagnostic audit," the story begins;
"“We, the physicians of Sunrise Health Region, would like to unanimously support our well respected colleague, Dr. Tsatsi, whom we feel had been treated extremely unfairly by the Sunrise Health Region,’’ the medical staff said in a statement released Friday," the story continues;
"The statement signed by 35 doctors expressed disappointment with how the region handled the review process saying that by publicly releasing Tsatsi’s name before the review and competency hearing processes were completed may have compromised his career.
In May the health region and the Ministry of Health announced a retrospective review had been ordered of more than 69,000 diagnostic images read by Tsatsi during the five years he worked in the region.
The audit was triggered by the findings of a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan quality assurance review in 2008 of 103 of Tsatsi’s case files that identified a number of variances in the interpretation of some of the diagnostic images.
“Once the college made the health region and the province aware of its concerns, there was an obligation, in the interest of patient safety, to get information out to the public as soon as possible,’’ region spokeswoman Sharon Tropin said.
She added the region’s CEO met with medical staff to inform them of the situation prior to going public.
“I’m not sure how we could have properly informed people without Dr. Tsatsi’s name becoming involved. The fact is, he, himself, had placed his name in the public forum,’’ she said, referring to Tsatsi’s legal challenge of the college’s review process in March, which is a matter of public record.
While acknowledging the region, the ministry and the college have a responsibility to protect patient safety, the doctors stated they believe the way the matter was handled “was prejudicial and damaging to all physician relationships in the region.”
“We are left with the perception of an unseemly eagerness to inflict punishment and penalties. In spite of the fact that the matter (of Tsatsi’s competence) is still subjudice. It will take a long time for any physician in Saskatchewan to feel safe from persecution by an overzealous bureaucracy,’’ the statement said.
While the doctors said they support the quality assurance program, a fair competency review process and the need to inform patients when findings come out of those processes that could potentially harm patients, they disagree with the disclosure of Tsatsi’s name.
Tropin said the region feels for Tsatsi and his family, but also feels for the patients and their families who at this time need assurances that their test results are accurate.
“We are definitely trying to be as open about disclosure of patient safety issues as possible. In this day and age of Internet, and text messaging, information flow, keeping things in a closed environment is neither desirable nor possible,’’ Tropin said.
“In this instance, our obligation was to the patients and to get accurate information to them as soon as possible.’’"
The article can be found at:
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Dozens+doctors+Sunrise+Health+Region+show+support+Darius+Tstasi/1826344/story.htmlHarold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
UP-DATE; SASKATCHEWAN; FLAWED X-RAYS, CT SCANS AND MAMMOGRAPHS; DR. DARIUS TSATSI'S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST COLLEGE; THE OTHER SIDE;

"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;
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
UP-DATE; SASKATCHEWAN; FLAWED X-RAYS, CT SCAN AND MAMMOGRAPHS; DR. DARIUS TSATSI FIGHTS BACK; SAYS HE IS A VICTIM OF RETRIBUTION; CBC REPORTS;

"THE HEALTH REGION HAS ORDERED A REVIEW OF ABOUT 70,000 X-RAYS, CT SCANS, MAMMOGRAMS AND ULTRASOUNDS AFTER PEERS FOUND PROBLEMS WITH MORE THAN 100 OF TSATSI'S CASES GOING BACK FIVE YEARS.
BUT TSATSI SAID THE MAMMOTH REVIEW IS THE RESULT OF AN ONGOING DISPUTE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE COLLEGE, CLAIMING HE WAS HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN OTHER DOCTORS WHILE HE WAS GOING THROUGH CERTIFICATION IN SASKATCHEWAN. HE FILED A LEGAL ACTION ALLEGING UNFAIR TREATMENT AND LOST."
CBC NEWS;
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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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CBC news reported yesterday that Dr. Darius Tsatsi has gone public in his battle against the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons in a story which ran under the heading "Suspended radiologist says he is victim of retribution."
"Dr. Darius Tsatsi was featured in a CBC-TV report in 2005 on his family's first Christmas in Canada. (CBC)A Yorkton physician, suspended while thousands of patient test results are reviewed, said Wednesday Saskatchewan's College of Physicians and Surgeons is making him a scapegoat because he once sued them," the story begins;
"Dr. Darius Tsatsi agreed in May to a voluntary suspension from his role as a radiologist with the Sunrise Health Region after health officials claimed to have found serious problems with his work," the story continues;
"The health region has ordered a review of about 70,000 X-rays, CT scans, mammograms and ultrasounds after peers found problems with more than 100 of Tsatsi's cases going back five years.
But Tsatsi said the mammoth review is the result of an ongoing dispute between himself and the college, claiming he was held to a higher standard than other doctors while he was going through certification in Saskatchewan. He filed a legal action alleging unfair treatment and lost.
He alleged Wednesday that the review of his work was ordered as retribution for taking the college to court.
"If you are alone, different, and you dare to question, we will show you. You'll be re-examined whether your previous assessment was good or not. Even if the reason for the re-assessment is not sufficient or fitting, we will re-examine you again and again. This has been a modern-day lynching."
Says he couldn't defend himself
Tsatsi claimed he was never able to defend himself when his work was questioned.
"I don't believe they're real. I make mistakes like everyone else. If you read what they say, if you had access to that document, it says, 'Look, Dr. Tsatsi is not dangerous.' "
Tsatsi said he has not been allowed to examine any of the images under review and that the situation has ruined his career and harmed his family.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan's College of Physicians and Surgeons denies Tsatsi's allegations.
The college's legal counsel, Bryan Salte, said it's obviously difficult to have one's work questioned. But the role of the college is the protection of the public.
"The college obviously has an obligation to be fair to physicians in the position of Dr. Tsatsi," said Salte. "The court found that that's what we had done, and certainly, we intend to continue doing that. But the real purpose of the process is to try to make sure the public is protected and that the physicians that they receive treatment from are practicing to an appropriate standard. That's what the college seeks to do."
Tsatsi had his privileges suspended May 14 after questions over "the interpretation of diagnostic images" arose.
The health unit believes there were "potential misinterpretations" of some of the images.
Tsatsi was one of three radiologists at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
A preliminary review of Tsatsi's work was conducted last year by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan. The college had three other doctors take a second look at 103 of Tsatsi's cases covering the period May 28 to Nov. 14, 2008.
The result was "significant clinical differences of opinion" in some of the cases, the health region said.
Another 70,000 exams, going back five years, are now under review — a process that will take months.
Tsatsi was trained in South Africa and has been working in Saskatchewan since 2004. He has also worked in the Cypress Health Region in the province's southwest and the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
Officials have said Tsatsi twice took an exam to be certified in Saskatchewan and has failed both times. While he has one more chance to pass, while the investigation is underway, Tsatsi has agreed not to practice radiology, officials said.
Tsatsi said he is reviewing his options — including legal action against the college, the health region and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health."
The CBC story can be found at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/07/22/sask-physician.html
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
Sunday, May 24, 2009
PROVINCE THAT HIRED DR. CHARLES SMITH AFTER HE LEFT ONTARIO IN DISGRACE NOW REVIEWING 70,000 EXAMS CONDUCTED BY A NOW SUSPENDED RADIOLOGIST;
"HOWEVER, IN AN INTERVIEW THURSDAY, DENNIS KENDEL, THE REGISTRAR OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, SAID THE COLLEGE ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT TSATSI'S COMPETENCY 2½ YEARS AGO AND CONDUCTED A REVIEW.
"IN THE FIRST REVIEW, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT DR. TSATSI'S CAPACITY TO DETECT CERTAIN ABNORMALITIES IN X-RAYS," HE SAID.
HOWEVER, AT THE TIME, THE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WERE NOT AS SERIOUS AS THE MORE RECENT ONES, HE SAID.
"THERE WASN'T EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING WAS BEING PUT AT RISK. IN THE MOST RECENT REVIEW THERE WAS SUCH EVIDENCE," HE SAID."
CBC NEWS:
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The province of Saskatchewan is conducting an "unprecedented" review of 70,000 medical images analysed by Dr. Darius Tsatsi.
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);
"Questions of competency were raised 2½ years ago about the radiologist 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," the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported on May 21.
"On Wednesday, the Yorkton-based Sunrise Health Region announced it suspended Dr. Darius Tsatsi from privileges at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on May 14 after serious problems were found in cases Tsatsi had been involved in," the story continued;
"The college said after other radiologists double-checked Tsatsi's work on 103 randomly chosen cases from last year, there was a "high incidence of disagreement."
"A worrisome proportion of those disagreements involve clinical situations in which a diagnostic error could have devastating adverse consequences for patients," the college said in a background document released to the media Wednesday.
Number to call:
The Sunrise Health Region is advising people who want to find out if Dr. Darius Tsatsi handled their diagnostic images to call their toll free number: 1-877-854-4424.
However, in an interview Thursday, Dennis Kendel, the registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the college also had concerns about Tsatsi's competency 2½ years ago and conducted a review.
"In the first review, there were some concerns about Dr. Tsatsi's capacity to detect certain abnormalities in X-rays," he said.
However, at the time, the concerns about his knowledge and skills were not as serious as the more recent ones, he said.
"There wasn't evidence that would suggest that people's well-being was being put at risk. In the most recent review there was such evidence," he said.
Through his lawyer, Tsatsi asked back then to undergo "remedial education" at McMaster University in Hamilton.
He took the courses, but the college wasn't satisfied he had improved enough, so it did another review, leading to the suspension.
Tsatsi, who was trained in South Africa and has been working in Saskatchewan since 2004, still has his medical licence, but has agreed not to practice medicine until the competency hearing process is complete, Kendel said.
A review of 70,000 images is being conducted, most of them from Tsatsi's work at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. There are also a smaller number of images to be checked at the Cypress Health Region in the southwest part of the province and at the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
Tsatsi's wife Liza issued a statement on her husband's behalf Thursday saying he will co-operate with the investigation.
"Look, he's not going to to run away from this," she said.
"He's a man of character and integrity. He will stay around and make sure the process finishes and co-operates because if he goes to South Africa he compromises the investigation and he's going make sure that no stone is left unturned."
In the written statement, Darius Tsatsi said his main concern is patient safety. He said he remains in Canada but will be taking a trip to South Africa to visit an ailing brother and attend to "private matters."
He said he and his family "wish to thank friends, patients and colleagues for their support in these trying and difficult times."
The statement said Tsatsi has been in medical practice for about 26 years, almost half of which were spent in diagnostic radiology.
"Some of the radiologists that he trained are employed all over the world including Canada," the statement said."
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
"IN THE FIRST REVIEW, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT DR. TSATSI'S CAPACITY TO DETECT CERTAIN ABNORMALITIES IN X-RAYS," HE SAID.
HOWEVER, AT THE TIME, THE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WERE NOT AS SERIOUS AS THE MORE RECENT ONES, HE SAID.
"THERE WASN'T EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING WAS BEING PUT AT RISK. IN THE MOST RECENT REVIEW THERE WAS SUCH EVIDENCE," HE SAID."
CBC NEWS:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The province of Saskatchewan is conducting an "unprecedented" review of 70,000 medical images analysed by Dr. Darius Tsatsi.
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);
"Questions of competency were raised 2½ years ago about the radiologist 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," the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported on May 21.
"On Wednesday, the Yorkton-based Sunrise Health Region announced it suspended Dr. Darius Tsatsi from privileges at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on May 14 after serious problems were found in cases Tsatsi had been involved in," the story continued;
"The college said after other radiologists double-checked Tsatsi's work on 103 randomly chosen cases from last year, there was a "high incidence of disagreement."
"A worrisome proportion of those disagreements involve clinical situations in which a diagnostic error could have devastating adverse consequences for patients," the college said in a background document released to the media Wednesday.
Number to call:
The Sunrise Health Region is advising people who want to find out if Dr. Darius Tsatsi handled their diagnostic images to call their toll free number: 1-877-854-4424.
However, in an interview Thursday, Dennis Kendel, the registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the college also had concerns about Tsatsi's competency 2½ years ago and conducted a review.
"In the first review, there were some concerns about Dr. Tsatsi's capacity to detect certain abnormalities in X-rays," he said.
However, at the time, the concerns about his knowledge and skills were not as serious as the more recent ones, he said.
"There wasn't evidence that would suggest that people's well-being was being put at risk. In the most recent review there was such evidence," he said.
Through his lawyer, Tsatsi asked back then to undergo "remedial education" at McMaster University in Hamilton.
He took the courses, but the college wasn't satisfied he had improved enough, so it did another review, leading to the suspension.
Tsatsi, who was trained in South Africa and has been working in Saskatchewan since 2004, still has his medical licence, but has agreed not to practice medicine until the competency hearing process is complete, Kendel said.
A review of 70,000 images is being conducted, most of them from Tsatsi's work at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. There are also a smaller number of images to be checked at the Cypress Health Region in the southwest part of the province and at the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
Tsatsi's wife Liza issued a statement on her husband's behalf Thursday saying he will co-operate with the investigation.
"Look, he's not going to to run away from this," she said.
"He's a man of character and integrity. He will stay around and make sure the process finishes and co-operates because if he goes to South Africa he compromises the investigation and he's going make sure that no stone is left unturned."
In the written statement, Darius Tsatsi said his main concern is patient safety. He said he remains in Canada but will be taking a trip to South Africa to visit an ailing brother and attend to "private matters."
He said he and his family "wish to thank friends, patients and colleagues for their support in these trying and difficult times."
The statement said Tsatsi has been in medical practice for about 26 years, almost half of which were spent in diagnostic radiology.
"Some of the radiologists that he trained are employed all over the world including Canada," the statement said."
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
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