The doctor injured earlier this month by a patient in the psychiatric ward at Penticton Regional Hospital has yet to return to work, and multiple investigations into the matter are still underway.
Interior Health hasn’t publicly identified Dr. Rajeev Sheoran, but the psychiatrist is named in court documents as the alleged victim of an attack by Gregory Stanley Nield, 30, during a closed-door interview on Dec. 5.
A person who answered the phone last week at Sheoran’s office said it’s unknown when he’d be returning to work.
Nield, who has since been charged with aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm, was ordered by a judge to undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
The B.C. Nurses’ Union said Sheoran was “lucky to be alive” following an attack that left him with a broken jaw and facial injuries. But just what led up to the assault, and how to prevent a similar incident in the future, is still under review.
“Our investigators have initiated a formal investigation into the incident to determine the cause (and) any underlying factors. The incident is also being investigated by local RCMP and the two agencies are working together per our memorandum of understanding for the investigation of serious workplace incidents,” WorkSafeBC spokesman Scott McCloy said in a statement.
McCloy said the probe could take several months, but wouldn’t speculate on what type of recommendations might come out of it. Interior Health spokeswoman Grace Kucey confirmed her organization is conducting its own internal review, but said privacy laws prevented her from providing an update on Sheoran’s condition.