The chief of surgery at a Parry Sound hospital has resigned after a hospital probe found his behaviour to nurses in the operating room to be disrespectful and “harassing.”Dr. Bill Smyth, an orthopedic surgeon who will continue to do operations subject to a “zero tolerance” condition, will no longer have a management role at the West Parry Sound Health Centre. He has been told to apologize to those affected by his behaviour.“The health centre asked for and has received, effective immediately, Dr. Smyth’s letter of resignation as Chief of the Department of Surgery,” hospital CEO Donald Sanderson told the Star Friday.The Star revealed in December that nurses had made repeated complaints to officials at the hospital about Smyth, and nurses believed the hospital was stalling on the probe. Among the complaints reviewed by the Star were allegations that he made sexually harassing comments to nurses, was threatening and “bullying,” and that after an operation to amputate a patient’s toe he made a crude gesture with the toe sticking up between his fingers.The College of Physicians and Surgeons, the body that regulates Ontario’s doctors, is investigating Smyth’s conduct as well. The Star has sent Smyth multiple requests for an interview and has not received a response.In his first detailed public response to the allegations, Sanderson said that after complaints came to the hospital’s attention last year, a “third-party” expert was hired by the hospital to investigate a series of complaints.The investigation has concluded that Smyth “engaged in behaviour that was found to be unprofessional, disrespectful and harassing in relation to these complainants,” Sanderson said.Smyth, a colourful character who wears bloodstained work boots in the operation room joined the Parry Sound hospital in 2009 after he lost his privileges at a hospital southwest of Ottawa over allegations he ...
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