Miramichi pathologist appeals suspension
A Miramichi pathologist is appealing his suspension by the province's College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Rajgopal Menon's medical licence was suspended in February after complaints of misdiagnosis after13 years as a pathologist at the Miramichi Regional Hospital.
Menon wants his suspension revoked and is asking for punitive damages for stress and humiliation.
Menon diagnosed everything from heart disease to cancer, and for two of his years at the northern New Brunswick hospital he was chief of pathology.
"On considering the ongoing risk, the need for immediate action and the College's obligation to protect the public, the Executive ordered an immediate suspension of Dr. Menon's licence," said the New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons, according to court documents filed this month.
The risk, the College alleges, is that Menon either misdiagnosed or was late in diagnosing at least seven patients, mostly cancer cases. There were previous further complaints against Menon by relatives of two patients who died under the 72-year-old doctor's care.
Menon is appealing his suspension, alleging he's been harassed by the hospital administration for years. Healso says he was suspended without a board of inquiry.
"I am not aware of any shortfall of my clinical practice to warrant such a drastic measure without notice," Menon wrote in a letter to the hospital.
The college is standing by its decision, saying:
"The nature of the complaints relative to correctly diagnosing and expeditiously reporting pathological interpretations with respect to life-threatening and/or possibly terminal diseases, more particularly various forms of cancer, demonstrate that lifting the suspension of Dr. Menon's licence is not in the public interest."
Menon and his lawyer were hoping the issue would remain private. Earlier this week, they asked the judge to seal some of the court documents, including a peer review that criticized the way Menon did his job. That document is now sealed.
Lawyers on both sides will participate in a judicial review in Saint John Friday afternoon.