As seen in this report from the CBC news
A psychiatrist now working at a Canadian Forces base in New Brunswick gave up his medical licence in Newfoundland and Labrador after a patient complained that he had had sex with her.
James Hanley voluntarily closed his practice in St. John's in 2005, but did not tell his patients in advance. He moved to New Brunswick and is now practising at CFB Gagetown.
Despite Hanley's admission that he had had a sexual relationship with a patient he was treating, military officials says say they face a severe shortage of psychiatrists in Atlantic Canada.
"There's very limited psychiatric services in the Gagetown area," said Cmdr. David Wilcox, who is responsible for medical services for the military in Atlantic Canada.
"If his services were to be withdrawn, we would have a hard time filling that gap."
Patient attempted suicide
Kathleen Wiseman, 44, who lives on Bell Island near St. John's, became Hanley's patient in 1987.
In 2003, their relationship changed. Wiseman said she was depressed and abusing prescription drugs at the time.
"You know, I trusted him," Wiseman said in an interview.
"I was not in charge of myself.… I went to him and I said, 'I need you to help me,' and the next thing you know, I'm in bed with my psychiatrist."
At the time, Hanley was working part-time for the military in New Brunswick, where he still holds a licence.
The relationship between Hanley and Wiseman ended, and in late 2004 Wiseman made a suicide attempt.
Wiseman has registered a statement of claim against Hanley and the Eastern Health regional authority, his employer at the time, with the Newfoundland Supreme Court.
Could lose licence in other provinces
She has also filed a complaint with the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Physicians and Surgeons, which regulates the medical profession.
Dr. Robert Young, the college's registrar, said the issue is a serious one.
"If it's established that the physician has had sexual contact with a patient, that is inappropriate and may be professional misconduct," Young said.
Hanley does not want to speak publicly about the case. In a written response delivered to medical authorities, Hanley admitted that he and Wiseman had a sexual relationship.
The Canadian Forces did a risk assessment of Hanley. It concluded that, with troops returning from combat in Afghanistan, the Forces need Hanley too badly to let him go.
The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Physicians and Surgeons has not yet set a date for a hearing.
If a college panel finds Hanley guilty of professional misconduct, he could lose his licence to practise in other provinces, as well.
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