New Brunswick doctor charged with sexual assault at Nova Scotia hospital

A New Brunswick doctor has been charged with sexual assault in an alleged incident in a Nova Scotia hospital.

A New Brunswick doctor has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident at a Nova Scotia hospital in January.

Police say they received a report of a sexual assault involving a doctor at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in Upper Nappan, N.S., in May.

According to a news release Thursday, the incident allegedly took place in January during an assessment in the hospital’s emergency room.

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Dr. Sanjeev Sirpal was arrested and charged with sexual assault on Aug. 14. He was released on conditions pending a court appearance in Amherst, N.S., on Nov. 15.

Police say they believe there may be more alleged victims, but didn’t say why.

“Anytime someone who is in a position that has some power or authority, there’s always concerns when we get allegations like this,” said RCMP Cpl. Carlie McCann.

According to police, Sirpal was previously employed in Quebec and Nova Scotia and currently works in New Brunswick.

The allegations against Sirpal have not been tested in court.

Conditions placed on medical license

According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, a doctor by the name of Sanjeev Sirpal specializes in family medicine and works at the Edmundston Regional Hospital.

It also lists the two following restrictions under his profile:

• can only conduct intimate examinations of a patient’s sexual organs or breasts, regardless of their gender, in the presence of a chaperone
• must explain to the patient, in the presence of the chaperone, the rationale for the intimate examination and document this discussion and the identity of the chaperone in the chart

However, the college told CTV News the restrictions are “unrelated” to the criminal charge in Nova Scotia.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia also lists a doctor by the same name. According to his profile, his medical license was removed at his own request in March.

Both profiles state he graduated from the Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine in 2013.

‘No longer on the schedule’

CTV News received a statement from the Vitalite Health Network Thursday afternoon, stating Sirpal “is no longer on the schedule at Edmundston Regional Hospital.”

It added that Sirpal’s clinical activities are on hold, pending the conclusion of the legal process.

Mayor ‘disheartened’ by allegations

Cumberland County Mayor Rod Gilroy says he’s “disheartened” and “heartbroken” by the allegations.

“Both from the point of view that, you know, there’s potentially a victim and, I don’t think that people understand the courage it takes for someone to come forward,” Gilroy told CTV News.

He’s also upset for hospital workers and those who work to bring health-care workers to the province.

“Patients and the public in general have an expectation of a level of trust that is actually, you know, much higher in the health-care system, perhaps,” said Gilroy.

MLA calls for better transparency

Meanwhile, Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is calling for the release of more details about the allegations and reassurance that Sirpal won’t be allowed to practice medicine in Nova Scotia while he’s facing a sexual assault charge.

“Patients deserve to feel safe when they seek medical care,” said Smith-McCrossin in a statement Thursday.

“Nova Scotia Health must disclose what they knew about these allegations, what steps were taken to protect patients, and where else this doctor has worked in the province.”

Smith-McCrossin also expressed concerns over the fact that Sirpal continues to hold a medical license in New Brunswick.

“This raises serious questions about the protection of patients in other jurisdictions,” she said. “Authorities in New Brunswick must review this situation immediately to ensure patient safety.”

Smith-McCrossin is urging anyone who is a victim of sexual assault to contact the RCMP and also seek counselling.

According Dr. Gus Grant, the Registrar & CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, they were notified Wednesday by the Cumberland County District RCMP that sexual assault charges had been filed against Dr. Sirpal.

“In learning of these charges, the College has requested the court documents outlining the charges and associated conditions,” Dr. Grant told CTV News in an email. “We will then determine what further action we can take at this time as the matter is now before the courts and Dr. Sirpal does not hold a licence to practice in Nova Scotia.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page