CORNER BROOK, N.L. — A Corner Brook doctor has had his licence to practice medicine suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador.
An alternative dispute resolution settlement agreement posted to the college’s website says Dr. Brent Thistle, a family doctor who had worked in the emergency room at Western Memorial Regional Hospital, admitted to engaging in unwelcome physical contact, unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature and unwelcome invitations to socialize with a medical resident. He also admitted to engaging in unwelcome physical contact and/or unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature with a medical resident and 12 other health-care colleagues.
The registrar of the college filed an allegation against Thistle on July 20, 2018. The allegation was in relation to allegations of harassment that had been investigated by the Western Regional Health Authority. The authority determined the allegations met its definition of harassment.
The matter was investigated by the college’s complaints authorization committee and referred back to the registrar for alternative dispute resolution.
Thistle acknowledged his behaviour constituted professional misconduct and was in violation of the college’s standards of practice and code of ethics.
In addition to losing his licence for two months, Thistle has been reprimanded for his admitted professional misconduct and must complete, at his own cost, a course in ethics and boundaries.
Western Health said Friday that Thistle no longer provides service for the authority and hasn't since June 2018. In an emailed statement the health authority said it does not comment on human resources matters.
