The doctor suspended for taking a photo of a naked, unconscious patient and sending it to another staff member is back to work at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Victoria-based urologist Dr. John Kinahan was fined $20,000 and slapped with a six-month suspension starting Jan. 1, 2016 after he took the photo without the patient’s consent, then texted it along with a joke to a third party.
But Kinahan only had to serve two months of the suspension after he completed a multidisciplinary assessment program and further education on ethics, boundaries and professionalism.
Island Health confirmed his hospital privileges were reinstated and said mechanisms are in place to support and monitor Kinahan in his practice.
“Since this incident occurred, we have reviewed policies and guiding how privacy investigations are carried out,” Island Health said in a statement. “And, in response to ever-changing technologies, we continue to build comprehensive standards, policies and guidelines to guide visitors, staff and physicians around the appropriate use of these technologies within our facilities.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. said it was the first time it took disciplinary action against a doctor for using a smartphone in an unethical manner with a patient.
