The College of Physicians and Surgeons suspends the practice of Dr. Ross Mantle on an interim basis, which affects his privileges at Health Sciences North
A Sudbury neurosurgeon has been provisionally suspended from practice by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
As of June 16, Mantle’s certificate of registration at the university was suspended over concerns that he “engaged in professional misconduct and/or was incompetent in his performance and reporting of electromyography studies and studies of nerve conduction,” the university states on its website. “As a result of the investigation, Dr. Mantle has stopped performing electromyography studies and nerve conduction studies.”
Mantle has been a practicing neurosurgeon since 2005.
John Hopkins Medicine describes electromyography as a diagnostic procedure that “measures the muscle response, or electrical activity, in response to stimulation of the muscle by a nerve. The test is used to help detect neuromuscular abnormalities. During the test, one or more small needles (also called electrodes) are inserted through the skin into the muscle.”
The college provided little information about the reasons for the suspension. CPSO spokeswoman Shae Greenfield said the university had launched an investigation into “whether Dr. Mantle engaged in professional misconduct and/or was incompetent in his performance and reporting of electromyography studies and of nerve conduction”.
However, to address the CPSO’s concerns, Greenfield said Mantle agreed to stop using electromyography in his practice. The reasons, however, remain unknown.
“Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, we are prohibited from disclosing further details of this investigation.”
In June, Mantle’s practice was suspended by the CPSO’s Investigations, Complaints and Reports Committee (under Section 25.4 of the Act). This section allows the university to restrict a doctor’s practice “when there is evidence that the public and/or patients would be put at risk.”
But again, Greenfield said, “we are prohibited from disclosing additional details about the precipitating factors at this time.”
Also, because of the university’s decision to restrict Mantle’s practice, he cannot practice at Health Sciences North, the hospital said in a statement emailed to Sudbury.com.
Mantle’s patients at the hospital have been reassigned to one of three other practicing neurosurgeons at HSN.
“Other patients should contact their family doctor (sic) if they need a referral to another neurosurgeon,” the hospital said.
While the suspension of a neurosurgeon could likely affect the hospital’s neurosurgical waiting list, HSN said it remains ahead of the provincial curve when it comes to a backlog of patients waiting for services.
“There are about 180 patients waiting for neurosurgery services at HSN, compared to 154 before the pandemic,” the hospital said. “HSN continues to perform better than provincial averages when it comes to case completions. For example, 55% of HSN spinal surgery patients are treated within target time, compared to 50% provincially.”