Suspended radiologist confident in abilities: lawyer

A St. John's lawyer is defending the work of a southern Newfoundland radiologist who was suspended last month amid a review of his work.

Fred Kasirye, who worked at the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre in Salt Pond, interpreted X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans from thousands of patients.

The Eastern Health regional authority suspended Kasirye after a preliminary review raised questions about his work.

The authority then launched a larger review, involving about 4,600 reports, but has not yet revealed its findings.

Kasirye told CBC News he feels "lost" as the review continues, and referred calls to his lawyer.

Liam O'Brien whose firm St. John's firm Curtis, Dawe is representing Kasirye is focusing his efforts on the preliminary review that led Eastern Health in May to suspend his client's hospital privileges.

That first review involved about 100 reports.

O'Brien said he wants to ensure the radiologist has been treated fairly.

O'Brien told CBC News that Kasirye, who was recruited last fall to work at the Burin Peninsula hospital, remains confident in his abilities as a radiologist.

Meanwhile, Eastern Health has been contacting physicians to notify them of any changes to the interpretation of their patients' reports as a result of the wider review.

As well, the Central Health authority announced earlier this week it was widening a review of a second suspended radiologist.

That unidentified physician, who was suspended earlier this month, had been working at the hospital in Gander.