A 41-year-old Nova Scotia doctor is facing voyeurism charges following a nine month investigation.
Police arrested a suspect Tuesday after complaints of someone recording people in the staff washroom of the Westside Medical Centre.
Charged with voyeurism is Dr. Rafid Al-Nassar, 41, of New Glasgow. Al-Nassar, an employee of the centre, has been released from custody. He is set to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on Dec. 5.
Dr. Gus Grant, registrar and CEO for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, said in a phone interview he had been notified by the Nova Scotia Health Authority on Tuesday about Al-Nassar’s arrest and the charges.
“Given the serious nature of the charges and allegations, I had the matter considered immediately by the investigation committee at the college,” Grant said Wednesday.
The committee has legislative authority to take steps “in the public interest or in the interest of the medical profession,” Grant said. He said though the committee has not yet heard from Al-Nassar, it imposed a suspension on his medical licence. The suspension is in place until the committee determines it is “appropriate” to lift it.
“The committee was motivated to act in the public interest and in the interest of the profession,” Grant said.
Al-Nassar can appear before the committee, Grant explained, but until then the college will let “the criminal process run its course or until we hear from Dr. Al-Nassar.”
Investigators believe they have been able to identify all of the victims in the recordings.
The major crime unit continues to investigate the case.
—With files from Sean Previl, Global News
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