The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor As the NRHA faces more calls to return a long-serving physician to his former role at the Flin Flon General Hospital, legalities make the specifics of the situation difficult to confirm. After having his hospital privileges revoked in October 2010, Dr. Krishan Sethi went to court and won them back in December 2010. Yet Sethi, who has practiced in Flin Flon since 1980, is no longer picking up shifts at the hospital as some type of dispute between he and the NRHA continues. At a somewhat related public forum held at City Hall on Monday, at least four supporters of Sethi's implored NRHA officials to resolve the matter in the physician's favour. But Cal Huntley, vice-chair of the NRHA board, said whatever happens next is out of the NRHA's hands. 'It's a legal case that's in the process of being done and until it runs to its conclusion, nothing can be done by this board or by (Sethi),' he said. It was revealed that the board has voted on the Sethi situation, in accordance with a recommendation from an independent panel, but the NRHA could not disclose the nature of the vote. CEO Helga Bryant said an appeal is now underway, but again no specifics were provided. 'The process is going on and we won't speak to the recommendation,' Huntley said. 'We've had legal advice on this and the process is continuing. (When) the process is done, then it will be public knowledge and part of that is in support of Dr. Sethi and part of that is in support of the position from the RHA.' Asked if she as CEO has the authority to end the matter, Bryant said medical staff by-laws are now in fact 'dictating that process.' 'Totally different' NRHA communications director Corliss Patterson said the current situation is 'totally different' from the case that saw Sethi regain his hospital privileges in 2010. She clarified statements from some in the crowd by noting that Sethi does in fact have admitting privileges for his patients at the hospital. 'He can admit patients to the hospital, he has all the diagnostic services, he has all those privileges,' Patterson said. 'So...if you're his patient at the hospital, he can still go see that patient and look after that patient, order lab work _ whatever needs to be done in order that he can take care of that patient.' See 'More...' on pg. 15 Continued from pg. 3 But for Tom Heine, the chair of the local Concerned Citizens Health Care Committee who has taken Sethi's side in the wrangling, there's more to the story. He said Sethi is forced to indicate to the CEO when he is going back to the hospital, and that he must limit his interactions to his patients. Heine said placing such requirements on a professional is 'not acceptable' and that 'anybody who has a smidgeon of pride would not bite on that one.' Another Sethi supporter, Don Raddysh, demanded to know when the situation would be settled, but Bryant reiterated that the timing is beyond the NRHA's control. Bryant did note, however, that the process no longer involves the independent committee struck to look into the matter, as its work has concluded. Another Sethi patient said the NRHA could save money by rehiring Sethi as a hospital anesthetist rather than bringing in doctors from out of town. He said he wants Sethi back at the hospital in case he gets hurt at work. Costs unknown Heine asked Patterson to reveal how much the NRHA has spent on legal costs related to this dispute, but she said she does not presently have that figure. Bryant said the situation is 'in process right now and we need to be respectful of that process like any unionized complaint, appeal, arbitration kind of process.' 'We need to allow that same process to unfold here,' she added. Reached by e-mail this past Sunday, Sethi's lawyer, Bill Haight, said there was nothing to report with regard to his client. As part of the 2010 ruling that restored Sethi's hospital privileges, a judge ordered that a string of complaints against the physician _ including financial impropriety and starting surgeries at inconsistent times _ be heard by the independent committee. Through his lawyer, Sethi, whose accolades include awards from the Society of Rural Physicians and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, has denied any wrongdoing.
