Doctor facing discipline for spreading COVID-19 misinformation in B.C., college says
A doctor is facing discipline in B.C. for spreading COVID-19 and anti-vaccine misinformation – including on one occasion when he allegedly did so against a backdrop of provincial officials hanging in effigy.
A citation was issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia Thursday outlining the allegations of professional misconduct by Dr. Daniel Yoshio Nagase. A hearing will be held at a later date.
According to the disciplinary notice, the college said Nagase's "public addresses" included making "misleading, incorrect, or inflammatory statements about vaccinations, treatments, and measures for COVID-19." The misconduct is said to have taken place "on or around Dec. 9, 2021."
On that day, a small crowd gathered outside the B.C. legislature to hear speakers opposed to vaccines and public health orders. Effigies with the faces of Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix, and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth were hanged prominently behind the stage.
The college's citation does not explicitly refer to this event but does say that Nagase made some of his statements "while appearing in front of effigies of political figures who were hung from nooses." Those statements included endorsing the use of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 and saying that vaccination against the virus is dangerous.
Nagase's registration status with the provincial regulatory body is "resigned." He is listed as a family doctor, but information about where he practiced is not provided.
Nagase was also registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. His status in that province is listed as "inactive." He is also included on a list of "physicians with COVID-19 practice restrictions."
A notice about these limitations was posted online on Dec. 6, 2021. In addition to being prohibited from issuing letters exempting people from vaccination and mandatory mask-wearing, he was also restricted from treating patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The Alberta college also placed conditions on his public statements about the pandemic, specifically those about ivermectin and vaccines.
When commenting online or in-person, Nagase was required to disclose that his opinions are "contrary to the accepted views of the profession," which are that vaccinations "have been shown statistically to save lives and to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms" and that "ivermectin is not authorized to prevent or treat COVID-19 and may cause serious health problems."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Local MP, MLA call on federal government to remove sunken vessel in Saint John River
An MP and an MLA are calling for the removal of a sunken vessel in the Saint John River.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.