The chief of staff of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is taking a leave of absence.
This in the wake of news breaking that Dr. Pervez Faruqi, CKHA’s top doc, faces criminal charges dating back to events from 2023.
According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO),
Faruqi faces charges of “assault, on or about Aug. 16, 2023…” as well as “assault, choking, suffocating or strangling between Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 16, 2023…” the CPSO website states.
CKHA officials said they only recently became aware of the charges against Faruqi, and the hospital is reviewing the matter.
Deb Crawford, chair of the CKHA board, said Faruqi’s leave of absence is effective as of Feb. 1. The leave does not impact his medical practice, nor his duties as a pediatric physician with the alliance.
Dr. Zeke Milkovic will take over as interim chief of staff, Crawford said.
Lori Marshall, president and CEO of CKHA, said administration does not comment on human resources matters.
Hospital officials had said in a previous email that, “CKHA understands that the allegations are unrelated to Dr. Faruqi’s medical practice or duties at the hospital, and no finding has been made by any court.”
Bail conditions imposed on Aug. 22 by the Chatham-Kent police, the CPSO documents state, include the doctor having to notify police of any change to his address; is to not communicate, directly or indirectly, with named persons and must not go to a specified address with a specified exception.
The CPSO document does not list the specified names or the address.
Marshall said the CPSO has its own policies and practices.
“We share information. We received their information. Aside from that, that would be all I would say on the matter,” she said.
