Doctor charged with sexually assaulting patient at Amherst ER

A former Nova Scotia physician who now practices in New Brunswick is facing charges of sexual assault after allegedly assaulting a patient during an emergency room assessment at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in January.

Dr. Sanjeev Sirpal has been charged with sexual assault in relation to the incident at the hospital near Amherst, according to a release from Nova Scotia RCMP. The RCMP believe there may be more victims and are urging any survivors to come forward to police.

Sirpal was arrested on August 14 and has been released on conditions pending his first appearance in Amherst provincial court on November 15. He was previously employed in Quebec and is currently practicing in New Brunswick.

According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, Sirpal has been registered to practice in the province since March 14. His office address is listed as Edmundston Regional Hospital, where he specializes in family medicine.

His registration comes with two conditions: he can only conduct “intimate examinations” with a chaperone present, and he must explain to the patient, with the chaperone present, why he is conducting the examination and document the details in the patient’s chart.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia confirmed that Sirpal was removed from its registry in March at his own request and is no longer licensed to practice medicine in Nova Scotia.

In response to the charges, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick stated that it is “deeply concerned” and is conducting an immediate investigation to determine the appropriate next steps.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of patient safety and the need for vigilant oversight in the medical profession. It is essential for patients to feel safe and respected during medical examinations and treatments, and any allegations of misconduct must be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

We will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.