GRANDE PRAIRIE – Dr. Wynand Wessels, a surgeon in Grande Prairie Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct. The incident, that happened at the hospital in the Alberta community was hanging a noose at the operating room door.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons in Alberta says that the “hearing tribunal found Grande Prairie Surgeon Dr. Wynand Wessels guilty of unprofessional conduct after he fashioned and hung a rope in the shape of a noose on an operating room door, which was directed at one or more of his colleagues.”
The hearing tribunal found the rope was intended for “anyone misbehaving in the hospital” and added “based on the location of the rope, and the position of power Dr. Wessels held, the Hearing Tribunal found he acted with the intention of sending a message that would be reasonably interpreted as intimidating or threatening.”
Reportedly the message was being directed according to media reports at a colleague who is black.
The incident happened in 2016.
The hearing tribunal decided enough evidence existed to prove that these actions contravened the Health Professions Act, the Code of Ethics & Professionalism and CPSA’s Standards of Practice, and harmed the integrity of the profession.
The hearing tribunal will reconvene at a later date to determine Dr. Wessels’ sanction.
