The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto is shown on April 5, 2018. The Canadian Press/Doug Ives
A doctor at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital is facing charges and has been placed on immediate leave in connection with a months-long investigation into internet child exploitation, the city’s police force says.
Toronto police’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit launched an investigation in January following allegations that an electronic device was allegedly used to access and download child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, the police service said in a press release.
Search warrants were executed by investigators in February, at the Hospital for Sick Children, better known as SickKids, as well as at a home, police said. Officers seized several devices, including a work computer.
Dr. Dilan Dissanayake was arrested on July 21 in connection with the investigation, police said. The 44-year-old pediatric rheumatologist has been charged with possession and access to child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
“At this time, investigators have found no evidence that the child sexual abuse and exploitation material is connected to his practice as a physician,” police said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
None of the charges against Dissanayake have been tested in court.
Placed on Leave
SickKids issued a statement after Dissanayake’s arrest, noting that the doctor was placed on “immediate leave” once the hospital became aware of the police investigation.
“We are deeply upset and dismayed by this news and condemn the behaviour alleged in the police investigation,” SickKids said in the July 21 statement. “We understand that this news is concerning and the safety and well-being of our patients, families and staff remain our highest priority.”
SickKids said any patient families who received care from Dissanayake can contact the hospital if they have concerns.
A search for Dissanayake in the hospital’s online directory yielded no results, suggesting SickKids has removed him from its website.
His name has also been removed from the University of Toronto’s department of paediatrics where he held a clinical faculty appointment through the faculty of medicine.
School officials said the university placed Dissanayake on administrative leave as soon as it became aware of the police investigation.
“The safety of the university community is a top priority and we know of no evidence that the charges relate to his university activities,” a school spokesperson said in an email. “We are reaching out to members of the university community who may have worked and learned with him to make them aware of available supports and resources, in collaboration with SickKids.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website shows that it suspended Dissanayake on July 21, the day of his arrest.
Ontario law grants the college the authority to enforce an interim suspension without notification if the regulator believes a physician’s alleged conduct could cause a risk of harm to patients.
