A Toronto rheumatologist stayed licensed to practise medicine for roughly six months after police opened an investigation into an alleged upload of child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM), according to CBC News. Dr. Dilan Dissanayake, 45, did not have his licence suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario until July.

How did the investigation start?

A tip forwarded through the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children prompted the probe. According to Toronto police court filings, the report concerned a file believed to contain CSAEM that was uploaded to a personal Dropbox account on Jan. 19.

Investigators traced the login to an internet address located at the Hospital for Sick Children. The following week, officers searched both his home and his office in the hospital's research centre.

What did the hospital and regulator do?

SickKids placed Dissanayake on leave on Jan. 28, the day his office was searched, the hospital told CBC. A spokesperson called the allegations deeply disturbing and said patient and staff safety comes first.

The licensing college, however, did not restrict his licence until he was charged in July with possessing and accessing CSAEM. Neither Dissanayake nor the college answered CBC's question about whether he practised medicine elsewhere during that period.

A University of Calgary medical school professor, Dr. Shannon Ruzycki, told CBC the gap was worrying. She noted that without a restriction from the college, he could have continued seeing patients somewhere other than the hospital.

What happens next?

The charges against Dissanayake have not been tested in court. The case puts attention on how quickly regulators act when police are investigating a doctor but charges have not yet been laid.

FAQ

What is CSAEM?

It stands for child sexual abuse and exploitation material, meaning images or video depicting the sexual abuse of children.

Was Dissanayake still working at SickKids?

No. The hospital says he was placed on leave in January, though his licence was not suspended until July.