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Thavanathan, Rajiv Stephen

CPSO#: 103462

MEMBER STATUS
Active Member as of 14 Jun 2021
CURRENT OR PAST CPSO REGISTRATION CLASS
Independent Practice as of 03 Jun 2022

Summary

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Former Name: No Former Name

Gender: Male

Languages Spoken: English

Education: Memorial University of Newfoundland Facu, 2014

Practice Information

Primary Location of Practice
The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus
1053 Carling Ave
Ottawa ON  K1Y 4E9 Electoral District: 07

Additional Practice Location(s)

The Ottawa Hospital - General Site
501 Smyth Rd
Ottawa ON  K1H 8L6
Canada
County: Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Electoral District: 07

Hospital Privileges

Hospital Location
Ottawa Hospital Ottawa

Specialties

Specialty Issued On Type
Emergency Medicine Effective:03 May 2021 RCPSC Specialist

Terms and Conditions

(1) Dr. RAJIV STEPHEN THAVANATHAN may practise only in the areas of medicine in which Dr. THAVANATHAN is educated and experienced.

Postgraduate Training

Please note: This information may not be a complete record of postgraduate training.



University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2014 to 30 Jun 2015
PostGrad Yr 1 - Emergency Medicine

University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2015 to 30 Jun 2016
PostGrad Yr 2 - Emergency Medicine

University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2016 to 30 Jun 2017
PostGrad Yr 3 - Emergency Medicine

University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018
PostGrad Yr 4 - Emergency Medicine

University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2019 to 30 Jun 2020
PostGrad Yr 5 - Emergency Medicine

University of Ottawa, 01 Jul 2020 to 30 Jun 2021
PostGrad Yr 5 - Emergency Medicine

Registration History

Action Issue Date
First certificate of registration issued: Postgraduate Education Certificate Effective: 01 Jul 2014
Expired: Terms and conditions of certificate of registration Expiry: 30 Jun 2018
Subsequent certificate of registration Issued: Postgraduate Education Certificate Effective: 01 Jul 2020
Expired: Terms and conditions of certificate of registration Expiry: 03 May 2021
Subsequent certificate of registration issued: Restricted certificate Effective: 14 Jun 2021
Subsequent certificate of registration Issued: Independent Practice Certificate Effective: 03 Jun 2022

Previous Hearings

Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 21 Feb 2020
Summary:

On February 21, 2020, the Discipline Committee (the “Committee”) of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario released a written order stating its finding that Dr. Rajiv Stephen Thavanathan (“Dr. Thavanathan”) committed an act of professional misconduct.

Dr. Thavanathan was first issued a postgraduate certificate of registration in July 2014. During the relevant time, Dr. Thavanathan held a postgraduate certificate of registration and practised in Ottawa, Ontario, where he was a fourth year emergency medicine resident.

In January 2018, Ms A, a woman in her 20s, was brought by ambulance to an emergency department at an Ottawa hospital. Dr. Thavanathan and Ms A had been social acquaintances before her emergency department attendance. They had engaged in flirtatious electronic communication with each other since about August 2017.


On the morning when Ms A was present, Dr. Thavanathan began a shift in the emergency department. Dr. Thavanathan encountered Ms A in the emergency department after patient handover. When he saw Ms A, he realized that he knew her. Dr. Thavanathan performed a cardiorespiratory examination on Ms A, and asked for an electrocardiogram which had been performed previously to be repeated. Once there was a plan to admit Ms A, Dr. Thavanathan communicated the plan to her. Ms A was admitted to the hospital from the emergency department the same day, after which Dr. Thavanathan had no other encounter with her in hospital. Ms A was discharged from the hospital a few days later.
 

About four days after her hospital discharge, Ms A sent Dr. Thavanathan an Instagram message asking him out on a date. Dr. Thavanathan accepted. Ms A went to Dr. Thavanathan’s home in mid-January 2018. They consumed recreational drugs and alcohol at his home, and had sexual intercourse. Later that evening, they went to Montreal in Dr. Thavanathan’s car. They stayed in Montreal for two nights. While in Montreal they went to a bar and nightclub together, consumed recreational drugs and engaged in sexual activities.

After their trip to Montreal, Dr. Thavanathan and Ms A met several days later. They had sexual intercourse, after which they continued to have flirtatious conversations via Instagram. Ms A advised Dr. Thavanathan the next week that she no longer wanted to continue their relationship. Dr. Thavanathan respected Ms A’s wishes and had no further contact with her.

It was disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct on Dr. Thavanathan’s part to engage in the behaviour described above with Ms A shortly after his encounter with her

 
In considering penalty, the Committee noted the following facts.
1
 
Dr. Thavanathan has not practised medicine since July 1, 2018, when his postgraduate certificate of registration expired and was not renewed by the Registration Committee in view of the unresolved concerns regarding this matter. Dr. Thavanathan has one remaining year to complete in his residency program.
Dr. Thavanathan entered into substance use monitoring in December 2018 because of the substance use concerns identified in this case. In December 2019, the monitoring body reported Dr. Thavanathan to have complied continuously with his substance use monitoring. Dr. Thavanathan was reported not to have missed any urine screen tests, and all test results have been negative for substances of abuse. Dr. Thavanathan continued to demonstrate insight and a commitment to health and wellbeing. Dr. Thavanathan t will be monitored with respect to substance use until December 2020.


The Committee ordered and directed on the matter of penalty and costs:

-Dr. Thavanathan to attend before the panel to be reprimanded.

-The Registrar to suspend Dr. Thavanathan's certificate of registration for a period of three (3) months, commencing from February 22, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.

-The Registrar to place the following terms, conditions and limitations on Dr. Thavanathan's certificate of registration:

-Dr. Thavanathan will participate at his own expense in the PROBE Ethics & Boundaries Program offered by the Centre for Personalized Education for Professionals, by receiving a passing evaluation or grade, without any condition or qualification. Dr Thavanathan will complete the PROBE program within nine (9) months of the date of this Order, and will provide proof to the College of his completion, including proof of registration and attendance and participant assessment reports, within one (1) month of completing it.

- Dr. Thavanathan to pay costs to the College in the amount of $6,000.00 within 30 days of the date of the Order.
 
 


Decision: Download Full Decision (PDF)
Hearing Date(s): February 21, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

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