Halifax pediatrician facing child pornography charges

A pediatrician is facing child pornography charges Friday after a search by the Internet Child Exploitation Unit, Halifax Regional Police say.

Police say officers searched a home in the 400 block of St. Margaret’s Bay Road in Halifax early Friday morning, seizing computer equipment and arresting a 72-year-old man.

Dr. William Richard Vitale, a resident of Halifax, is facing charges of making child pornography available, possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.

Halifax Regional Police confirmed to Global News that Vitale is a pediatrician in the city but said there doesn’t appear to be any local children involved.

Vilate’s license suspended

The College of Physicians and Surgeons Nova Scotia says they’re shocked by the charges laid Friday, and said an investigation is underway.

“I can’t imagine more serious charges particularly for someone in a position of trust like a practicing pediatrician,” Dr. Gus Grant told Global News.

“Immediately upon hearing that, the college convened an investigation committee. The committee considered the charges and has issued an interim suspension of Dr. Vitale’s license effective immediately.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Immediately upon hearing that, the college convened an investigation committee. The committee considered the charges and has issued an interim suspension of Dr. Vitale's license effective immediately."

The Crown said Vitale is not a threat to the public so he has been released and will be heading back to court in March.

Investigators have conducted two searches of the doctor’s home, and their primary concern is ensuring no children are at risk. They are also investigating whether other children were put at risk in the past.

The Crown also confirmed that the search and charges arose out of an online investigation into file sharing networks.

Previous suspension

Vitale was suspended in December 2013 after the College of Physicians and Surgeons Nova Scotia concluded he’d administered improper flu vaccinations to children.

The Nova Scotia health department said 500 children may have been given flu shots that consisted a mix of incompatible vaccines between 1992 and 1994 and from 2003 to 2013.

His license was later reinstated with the exception that he wasn’t permitted to give vaccines.