Latest news with #CollegeOfPhysiciansAndSurgeons
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Manitoba doctor restricted from some surgeries after examining bowel for injury through perforated uterus
Social Sharing A Manitoba doctor can no longer perform a number of surgical procedures by himself, after he pleaded guilty to several professional charges related to four patients — including an incident where he tried to assess a patient for a bowel injury through a perforation he'd made in her uterus. Dr. Zakaria Mohammad Abdullah Al-Moumen, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, pleaded guilty to charges including professional misconduct and displaying a lack of skill, knowledge and judgment in the practice of medicine, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said in a recently released discipline decision. Those charges were related to four patients he operated on over several years beginning in 2020, according to a June 30 decision delivered by a three-person inquiry panel for the college, which regulates the medical profession in Manitoba. The patient who experienced the bowel injury went for surgery with Al-Moumen in August 2022 to remove pieces of fibroid and part of her endometrial cavity. But the procedure was complicated by a bowel injury after a uterine perforation, the decision said. Al-Moume noted that "blunt uterine perforation," but did not find any other signs of injury and finished the surgical procedure, it said. The college's decision said the doctor didn't meet the expected standard of care, after he attempted to assess the patient for a bowel injury with laparoscopy — involving the insertion of a tube — through the perforation. An external consultant retained by the college also found "several deficiencies" in the doctor's care including "a lack of adequate attention to address a possible bowel injury." In the consultant's opinion, quoted in the college's decision, it was not also reasonable for the patient to be discharged when she was. At the very minimum, it said, she should have been admitted overnight and monitored. "With a known complication, Dr. Al-Moumen should be on alert for the specific risks of perforation with an electric instrument," the consultant said. The patient later returned in severe pain to hospital, where doctors found she had peritonitis, the decision said. She needed emergency surgery, which included a part of her bowel being removed and the remaining colon getting redirected to a colostomy — an opening in the abdomen that allows waste to exit the body. Inadequate documentation Al-Moumen acknowledged he could have better documented information on the patient's record, the college's decision said. The decision said the doctor's documentation in the case didn't meet the expected standard, and noted proper documentation is "key" when there are surgical complications — and not having it can lead to more issues for other medical providers. "An adequate patient record is essential to proper patient care," the college's decision said. "Where a record is inadequate, it puts into doubt appropriate care was provided or that risks were adequately discussed with a patient." According to the decision, the doctor also failed to document information in the records of three other patients he treated. One of them underwent surgery in July 2020 for a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, an abnormal growth of cells that can progress to cancer. During the procedure, the doctor's scalpel cut through the cervix, the decision said. The patient told the college she was not informed about the complication, and the college's decision said the doctor relied on clinical observation to determine if there was a bowel injury — but that relies on the patient being aware of the concern and the symptoms that could arise. The college found no documentation in the patient record that Al-Moumen disclosed the complication to the patient, even though the doctor said he did. There was also a lack of documentation on the operating report of a patient who developed a tissue infection after Al-Moume operated on them in October 2022. Concerns were raised related to the use of a drain that was placed near that patient's buttock, the decision said. A consultant retained by the college determined they could not say if the doctor did the procedure in accordance with expected standards, because the report lacked precise details. Similarly, the record completed by the doctor for another patient he treated was "less than satisfactory" and did not meet the standard of care, the decision said. 'Restorative' joint recommendation Under a joint recommendation reached between Al-Moumen and the college, the surgeon will now have restrictions on his practice that limit the procedures he can perform without another surgeon involved. He is also required to take remedial education and to pay the college for costs related to the investigation, the inquiry and monitoring his compliance. The joint recommendation, accepted by the college panel overseeing the case, is described in the decision as being "restorative" and intended to address and correct the issues that led to the charges. "The approach allows for Dr. Al-Moumen to continue to provide needed medical services while ensuring protection of the public," the decision said. "It should not be seen as a lesser penalty as it does not include a suspension of Dr. Al-Moumen's practice."
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
B.C. minister praises recruitment of health-care workers from U.S., with 780 applications in 2 months
British Columbia's health minister says the province has received almost 780 job applications from qualified American health professionals as part of its recruitment campaign. Josie Osborne says more than 2,250 doctors, nurses and other health professionals have signed up for webinars and expressed interest in working in B.C. since March. Bylaw changes implemented by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. this month mean U.S.-trained doctors can become fully licensed in B.C. without further assessment if they hold certifications from various American medical boards. Osborne says that means Canadian doctors trained in the U.S. can "come home" and the path also becomes easier for American physicians. The minister says the college is also considering more changes that would give internationally trained physicians a pathway to practise, if they completed a minimum of two years of postgraduate training in family medicine in the U.S., Australia, United Kingdom or Ireland. It would also make it simpler if they have completed postgraduate training and received certification in certain specialties from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, the U.K. or Ireland. A statement from B.C.'s Ministry of Health says of the 780 job applications received between May and June, 181 are for Interior Health, 154 for Fraser Health and 121 for Vancouver Coastal Health.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
B.C. health minister praises U.S. recruitment, says 780 applications in 2 months
B.C. Minister of Health Josie Osborne in a file photo in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, June 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER — British Columbia's health minister says the province has received almost 780 job applications from qualified American health professionals as part of its recruitment campaign. Josie Osborne says more than 2,250 doctors, nurses and other health professionals have signed up for webinars and expressed interest in working in B.C. since March. Bylaw changes implemented by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. this month mean U.S.-trained doctors can become fully licensed in B.C., without further assessment if they hold certifications from various American medical boards. Osborne says that means Canadian doctors trained in the U.S. can 'come home' and the path also becomes easier for American physicians. The minister says the college is also considering more changes that would give internationally trained physicians a pathway to practise, if they completed a minimum of two years of postgraduate training in family medicine in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom or Ireland. It would also make it simpler if they have completed postgraduate training and certification in certain specialties from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, the U.K. or Ireland. A statement from the Health Ministry says of the 780 job applications received between May and June, 181 are for Interior Health, 154 for Fraser Health and 121 for Vancouver Coastal Health. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Fredericton psychiatrist risks losing licence after not contesting misconduct allegations
Social Sharing A Fredericton psychiatrist could permanently lose his medical licence after choosing not to contest allegations of sexual misconduct at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday morning. Dr. Manoj Bhargava was presented with sanctions by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick for several long-standing complaints. Bhargava worked at the University of New Brunswick student health centre, and was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick in November 2020 after several complaints of inappropriate touching were filed. At his disciplinary hearing, the college's lawyer, Joël Michaud, described the allegations against Bhargava. They were based on complaints made by 20 individuals, whose identities are protected by a publication ban. The statement said Bhargava committed unprofessional misconduct taking heart rate and blood pressure measurements that were "inconsistent with the standards of the profession" outlined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. It said Bhargava also made comments, asked questions and made requests that were not consistent with the standards of the profession. According to the statement, Bhargava "treated all complainants in a manner that could reasonably be perceived by members as being disgraceful, dishonorable and unprofessional." None of the allegations have been proven in court. The lawyers for the college and Bhargava jointly recommended sanctions to revoke his licence and remove his name from the register. Fredericton psychiatrist doesn't fight sexual misconduct allegations 32 minutes ago It said Bhargava should never seek another licence in New Brunswick, and that he pay $5,000 to cover legal fees. Bhargava joined the meeting with his lawyer Sacha Morisset, who said he had no questions to add to the uncontested evidence or the sanctions. Bhargava did not speak at the hearing. The board of inquiry, composed of three doctors, will go through the submission and will make a written decision in the "very near future." Four civil lawsuits filed against Bhargava Meanwhile, Barghava's legal issues continue to play out in the court with the filing of new lawsuits. Monday afternoon, lawyer Basia Sowinski from the firm Valent Legal, filed four individual lawsuits, listing the University of New Brunswick and Bhargava as defendants in all four cases. She said the timing was coincidental with the disciplinary hearing. In April 2023, lawyers from the same firm discontinued a class-action lawsuit. It alleged that UNB didn't take appropriate steps to ensure the plaintiffs were not subjected to such acts, and that UNB was vicariously liable for the sexual assaults allegedly perpetrated by Bhargava. At the time, the firm said it would file a mass-tort lawsuit, which would allow plaintiffs to include those varying claims about where Bhargava allegedly assaulted them. The firm has now decided to pivot to individual lawsuits. Sowinski said the mass-tort lawsuit wasn't ideal for plaintiffs. "It's not really necessary to litigate it as a mass tort, but rather we just filed a separate lawsuit for them," she said. CBC is not naming the plaintiffs in the lawsuits because their cases involve allegations of sexual assault. In a draft of the one of the lawsuits provided by Sowinski, the allegations against Bhargava include medical negligence and sexual assault. "The Plaintiff alleges the Defendant Bhargava requested she wear loose clothing, or remove articles of clothing, so that her heart rate and/or blood pressure could be obtained." The lawsuit is also against UNB and alleges negligence and vicarious liability. Sowinski said the legal process has been "a pretty long road" for the plaintiffs. "I'm happy to help represent them and support them on the civil side of things to get a sense of justice for them."
CBC
12-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Change will help ensure serious complaints about Manitoba doctors are handled quickly: regulator
Social Sharing The regulator for doctors in Manitoba says it has a new triage system for complaints about its members that will let it respond to the most serious cases faster. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba says its newly implemented analytics unit will help it determine what course of action is needed on complaints as soon as they come in. "That way, we can pick out when we're seeing complaints that are really, really serious, and act on them really quickly," said Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, assistant registrar of complaints and investigations for the college, which self-regulates the medical profession in Manitoba. Under the new analytics process implemented on July 7, "once we receive that concern, it will be screened, and then it will come to me for initial review," Poliquin told guest host Faith Fundal in a Thursday interview with CBC's Information Radio. "If it's something that sounds … serious, like a boundary violation, then we essentially drop all we're doing and focus on that." Previously, when the college received complaints about a physician, it would determine the "best process for resolution" and "send it down that path," with the analysis happening after the fact — which could prove problematic, Poliquin said. "Because once you get into the details of a case, you can find out, 'Oh, the complaint was about the wrong doctor,'" or "the concern that was brought forward, which sounded OK … was actually really, really serious, and we should have acted on this sooner," he said. Poliquin spoke to CBC after confirming the college is "engaged" with Birchwood Medical Clinic in Winnipeg, following complaints about a family doctor working there. CBC spoke to 11 former and current patients and staff members of Dr. Christina Winogrodzka, who described different versions of the same themes, including delays in accessing medical records needed for either disability benefits or medical referrals, and delays in accessing medical results because, they allege, they were lost. One former patient told CBC that years ago, she'd tried to complain to the College of Physicians and Surgeons about Winogrodzka, but changed her mind after she was cautioned by the college that she'd have a hard time finding a new general practitioner. Other patients of Winogrodzka echoed those concerns, saying they too feared they would lose access to a family doctor if they complained. 'Power imbalance' The college recognizes "it's a really significant concern," Poliquin said. "I have a lot of sympathy and empathy for people who feel that power imbalance." The college has a directive in place that states no one should lose their family doctor because they've made a complaint, "and we do enforce that," he said. He expanded on that in a followup written statement. "If we receive a report that a physician has breached those expectations, this may result in an investigation into professional misconduct being added to the overall review," he wrote. Last month, Helena Friesen — the former patient who had earlier tried to complain about Winogrodzka — submitted a new complaint to the college. Christine Edwards, a former employee of Winogrodzka's, filed a separate complaint about the doctor with the college last month. The college confirmed as a result, it is "engaged" with the clinic, but would not provide further details.
