The doctor who pleaded guilty to attempting to record staff members in the washroom of a Saanich medical clinic has been handed a conditional one-year sentence and is allowed to continue practising.
Mark David Thiessen was sentenced Wednesday in Victoria provincial court after he earlier pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism. The charge stems from an August 2015 incident when an employee saw a phone she knew belonged to Thiessen positioned near a toilet at the Saanich Plaza Medical Clinic.
His conditions include ongoing treatment for mental health issues, a 12-step addiction rehab and that he remain in close contact with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.
“In terms of process, [CPSBC] will reactivate its own investigation now, beginning with a review of the current conditions already in place to protect patients, which include the requirement to have a chaperone present throughout all complete physical examinations, sensitive examinations and all examinations requiring any disrobing by female patients,” said a statement from the college.
The college will make it public if the investigation leads to any disciplinary action.
Thiessen no longer works at the Saanich clinic and is now practising at the Admirals Medical Clinic in View Royal. The place of work must be approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.
There is to be no recording of photography equipment available on site.
He is also to avoid contact with two of the staff from the Saanich Plaza Medical Clinic.
Following the report of the initial incident, police seized the phone but found nothing other than a recording of Thiessen setting it up.
Pending a year’s good behaviour, Thiessen will avoid a criminal record.