Key Takeaways:
- Changes have been made to Canada’s first interprovincial physician licensing program, the Atlantic Registry, after a doctor who had lost his license in Quebec was able to continue practicing in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
- The doctor, Sanjeev Sirpal, has been charged with sexually assaulting patients in hospitals in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
- The changes to the Atlantic Registry are not being disclosed due to ongoing investigations and criminal cases.
- The registry allows physicians to work throughout the region under one license, and has been held up as a model for pan-Canadian licensure.
- The program has grown, with 526 physicians enrolled last year, and is considered a viable model for multijurisdictional or national licensure.
Introduction to the Atlantic Registry
The Atlantic Registry, Canada’s first interprovincial physician licensing program, has undergone changes after a disturbing incident involving a doctor who had lost his license in Quebec. The doctor, Sanjeev Sirpal, was able to continue practicing in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where he was later charged with sexually assaulting patients. Despite the changes, the details of the modifications are not being disclosed due to ongoing investigations and criminal cases. Gus Grant, the chief executive officer and registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, has expressed confidence that the incident will not be repeated, but has declined to provide specifics.
The Case of Dr. Sanjeev Sirpal
Dr. Sirpal, 39, had his license revoked in Quebec in 2022 due to his failure to disclose that he had been dismissed from medical school for unethical conduct. However, he was still able to practice in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick under the Atlantic Registry, which allows physicians to work throughout the region under one license. Dr. Sirpal has since been removed from the registry and his license is suspended, and he has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault. He faces multiple charges of sexual assault in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with a three-day trial set for next year.
Investigations and Changes to the Atlantic Registry
The Quebec College of Physicians’ decision to revoke Dr. Sirpal’s license was not taken into account by the New Brunswick college when they reviewed his application to join the Atlantic Registry. It is unclear why the New Brunswick college signed off on Dr. Sirpal’s application, despite knowing about the revocation. Laurie Potter, the registrar and CEO of the New Brunswick college, has declined to provide more information, citing the ongoing disciplinary investigation into Dr. Sirpal. The Atlantic Registry has been held up as a model for pan-Canadian licensure, but the incident has raised concerns about the program’s effectiveness.
Impact of the Atlantic Registry
The Atlantic Registry was launched in 2023 in response to a call from the Council of Atlantic Premiers to enhance physician mobility. The program has grown, with 526 physicians enrolled last year, up 136 over the previous year. Dr. Grant has stated that the effect of multijurisdictional licensure should not be overstated, and that a review found the registry’s impact was positive, but relatively small. The Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada considers the Atlantic Registry a viable model for multijurisdictional or national licensure, but any program would need to be supported by a live nationalized bank of physicians’ employment and disciplinary data.
Conclusion and Future Developments
The incident involving Dr. Sirpal has highlighted the need for closer scrutiny of the Atlantic Registry and the need for a more robust system of monitoring and disciplining physicians. The changes made to the program are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that patients are protected and that physicians are held to the highest standards. The development of a nationalized bank of physicians’ employment and disciplinary data is a crucial step towards achieving this goal. As the Atlantic Registry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that regulators and policymakers prioritize patient safety and take a proactive approach to addressing concerns and making improvements to the program.
