ESTEVAN — Dr. Mehdi Horri's office announced Tuesday morning that he will not be seeing any female patients after March 26.
The changes came weeks after the announcement of 14 new disciplinary charges laid by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) in late January. An announcement was put up at the office Tuesday morning saying that Horri, practising out of the Estevan Medical Group, is not allowed to see female patients.
In an email to SaskToday and the Estevan Mercury on Tuesday afternoon, CPSS associate registrar Brian Salte said that there was a suspension hearing before the executive committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for March 23.
"The executive committee decision was that Dr. Horri would not be suspended if he signed an undertaking that he will not see any female patients," Salte wrote. "We expect that Dr. Horri will sign the undertaking.
"We expect that the executive committee will ultimately give reasons for its decision, but we don't know how long that will take.
"Dr. Horri is entitled to remain in practice, subject to the previous restrictions and the restriction against seeing female patients."
Salte noted that there has not yet been a hearing date set for the charges that have been laid against Horri in January.
"As we do not have reasons for the executive committee's decision, we cannot comment on what the committee considered in reaching its decision. The college provided information to the committee about its concerns, and Dr. Horri provided information to the committee in support of his position that he should not be suspended," Salte outlined.
With the committee's decision pending Horri's signature, March 26 is expected to be the last day the doctor will be able to see female patients until further notice. Female patients are being contacted by the office on Tuesday. The office is also working with other local doctors to arrange to accommodate the patients.
The office will be open until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to meet the requirements by Wednesday.
With questions or complaints, Horri's office asks the public to call the CPSS at 306-244-7355.
The new restrictions come after the CPSS referred allegations of unprofessional conduct involving three patients to the college's discipline committee at the end of January.
SaskToday and the Estevan Mercury will follow the situation.
