OPP calls murder charge against doctor a 'traumatic experience' for Hawkesbury

A day after a Hawkesbury, Ont., doctor was charged with murder, Ontario Provincial Police are meeting with thefamilies of those impacted by news of the investigation intomultiple suspiciousdeaths at theeastern Ontario hospital where he works.

Dr. Brian Nadler, 35, who lives inDollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., was charged with one count of first-degree murder on Friday, a day after Ontario Provincial Police were called to the Hawkesburyand District General Hospital.

Nadler, a specialist in internal medicine, remainsin custody.

"For the people who live in Hawkesbury, our heartfelt sympathies go outto, not only to the families directly impacted by this,but we understand this is a traumatic experience for everyone," OPPspokesperson Bill Dickson toldCBC News on Saturday.

• What we know so far about Brian Nadler, the doctor charged with 1st-degree murder
• Doctor charged with murder after multiple deaths at Hawkesbury, Ont., hospital

Dickson confirmed the one murder charge and that police are "looking at other recent suspicious deaths."

However, he said police can't release the name of the person who died, or provide any information on the families of the others consideredsuspicious deaths.

Nadler'sarrest prompted Hawkesbury Mayor Paula Assalyon Friday to ask people to remain calm and not be afraid to seek care at the hospital, which is located between Ottawa and Montreal.

On Saturday, Dickson called the hospital casea"one-off" and said the public shouldn't be worried.

Patientsays arrest 'abig shock'

But Francoise Pilon Poisson ofL'Orignal, Ont., is among Nadler's former patients who say they're shaken by the news.

Pilon said Nadlertook care of her in December, andat the time, she fully trusted him with her health.

"It's still bothering me a lot because it's like a big shock to me, because I never would have think you would do something like that. Ididn't sleep last night," said Pilon.

Nadler's lawyer told CBC News this week that his client maintains his innocence.

The next court appearance for Nadler, wholives in the western Montreal suburb of Dollard-Des-Ormeaux,is set for April 6.

WATCH|OPP speak on its investigation of other suspicous deaths at the hospital.

Police meeting with families shaken by murder charge against Hawkesbury doctor

4 years ago

Duration 0:31

OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson answers questions about investigation into suspicious deaths at Hawkesbury and District General Hospital.

The OPP saidmore information will be released when it becomes available and routine activity at the hospital will not be affected.

Dickson wouldn't confirm to CBC News whetherOPP are working with otherlaw enforcement agencies on the investigation.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario said it will immediately look into the "extraordinarily disturbing allegations." Ontario's Officer of the Chief Coroner is also involved in the investigation.

Ex-Reno colleague calls Nadler compassionate

Nadler has been licensed in Ontariosince Feb. 4, 2020. He graduated from Montreal's McGill University in 2010, then went to theUniversity of Alberta for surgery and internal medicine until 2014, according to anonline databaselisting his post-graduate training.

He was a resident at the University of Saskatchewan's medical school from July 2014 to September 2018, theCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan told CBC in an email.

During that time, he faced two unprofessional conduct charges, the college said.

Documents showone charge wasfor allegedly calling a female colleague a "bitch" after an argumentandtelling someone else he "felt like slapping" that colleague. Another charge involvedpatient record-keeping.

The incidents linked to both chargesallegedly occurred the same dayin August2014.

The college said he apologized and tooka pair of courses about ethics and record-keeping. It did not proceed any further with the charges.

From Sept. 24, 2018, to Sept. 23, 2019, Nadler worked as a geriatric fellow at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, the university confirmed in an email.

A former University of Nevada colleague told The Canadian Press on Saturday that Nadler was compassionate with patients.

Dr. Ahmed Hanfy, who trained with Nadlerfor about nine months, said whileNadlerhad a tendency to argue with other physicians, the disagreements were confined tomedical matters likethe best course of treatment.

Hanfy also said he couldn't recall any red flags related to Nadler's behaviour.