A Winnipeg doctor has filed a lawsuit against the Interlake Regional Health Authority claiming wrongful termination after reporting concerns about a patient’s misdiagnosis by his superior, which resulted in the patient’s death. Dr. Pradeep Bhanot said that he became aware of the misdiagnosis in June 2017 and informed his superior, who did not act on the information.
Dr. Bhanot then took his concerns to his superior’s boss after the patient’s condition continued to decline, but the incident was not declared an official critical incident. In August 2017, Dr. Bhanot was terminated without warning and believes it was in retaliation for reporting his concerns.
Dr. Bhanot argues that he had a duty to report his concerns under Manitoba’s Health System Governance and Accountability Act and that the same legislation prohibits the health authority from retaliating against someone for reporting a critical incident. He is suing the health authority and the two doctors who were the subject of his concerns for an unspecified amount of damages, alleging their conduct was «harsh, vindictive, reprehensible and malicious» and that he was fired without cause or prior notice.
The allegations made by Dr. Bhanot have not been proven in court. The Interlake Regional Health Authority declined to comment on the matter.
The case highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers in the healthcare industry and ensuring that individuals who report concerns are not subjected to retaliation. It also raises questions about the duty of care owed by healthcare professionals to their patients and the consequences of failing to meet this duty.