Should a doctor be required to tell their patients if they’re facing criminal charges?
That’s the question some are asking after a Saanich doctor was charged with attempting to record video of his employees in a staff bathroom.
Veteran family doctor Dr. Mark David Thiessen pleaded guilty in court Thursday to one count of secretly observing or recording nudity in a private place, after he tried using his cell phone to record female staff members in the bathroom in 2015.
Thiessen continues to practice at a View Royal clinic but is obligated to have a chaperone present when examining female patients.
An island-based expert who has written manuals on medical ethics says despite Thiessen’s attempt to film coworkers illegally, he wasn’t required to tell patients because the crime didn’t involve them.
Dr. Eike Kluge, a biomedical ethics professor at the University of Victoria, also says because of the province’s critical doctor shortage, the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons should allow Thiessen to continue practicing.
“Given the current lack of physician’s availability in general, that would have a severe impact on the availability of health care,” said Kluge. “If there is a way of dealing with the individual problem by not removing the physician from practice, that would be the appropriate way to do it.”
The BC College of Physicians says Thiessen has been under strict conditions since he was charged and is being closely monitored.
Following Thursday’s news of the charges against him, comments have flooded in online in large part supportive of Thiessen, with many saying the doctor is good at his job and they will continue to see him.
The college said Thursday his admission of guilt will be brought before an Inquiry Committee for further direction.
