Saskatoon board delays decision on Smith
Doctor seeks chance to address panel Awaits approval on hospital contract
SASKATOON— A decision as to whether pathologist Dr. Charles Smith will be permitted to complete his one- year contract at a Saskatoon hospital was abruptly deferred yesterday after his lawyer said he is out of the country. Smith began working at City Hospital this fall subject to final approval of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority’s board, which was to vote on the matter at its monthly meeting scheduled for this afternoon. But authority spokesperson Leanne Nyirfa told the Toronto Star that the board decided to defer its decision after being contacted yesterday afternoon by Smith’s lawyer who indicated Smith would like to have an opportunity to address the board before it makes a decision. An authority news release stated that Smith is “ currently out of the country on a lecture tour which was planned a year ago and not available until Nov. 24.”
Nyirfa told the Star that Smith and his lawyer were informed in October that the board would be dealing with the matter at today’s meeting.
Nyirfa said in an interview yesterday afternoon at the authority’s head office that neither Smith nor his lawyer gave any “ formal indication” until yesterday afternoon that Smith wished to address the board before it makes a decision.
Smith, who once had a stellar reputation as head of the Pediatric Forensic Pathology Unit at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, resigned from the hospital in July several months after Ontario’s chief coroner ordered a review of more than 40 cases he had worked on “ in order to protect public confidence.”
Ontario Finance Ministry documents reveal that Smith’s Hospital for Sick Children salary was a little more than $ 290,000 in 2004.
Nyirfa said Smith is to receive a salary of $ 230,000 plus 7 per cent in lieu of benefits under his one- year Saskatoon contract. She added, that he will not be paid for the period of time while out of the country “ on a lecture tour in the Baltic states.”
Smith’s lawyer, Neil Gabrielson, could not be reached for comment. The authority states in its release that it has chosen to defer the making of its decision “ on the advice of legal counsel,” and that the board will meet with Smith on Dec. 7, prior its next public meeting scheduled for Dec. 15. Smith is currently defending three negligence lawsuits in Ontario.