A Vernon doctor barred from practicing because of criminal charges, apparently returned to work prematurely this week.Dr. Ramesh Sharma was back at work as early as Sunday due to an 
apparent miscommunication between the doctor and his lawyers, according to the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has been charged with abetting a patient’s suicide attempt.The deputy registrar for the college, Dr. Doug Blackman, said that once lawyers realized the error, Sharma was again told to stop practicing. Blackman said there will likely be an investigation to determine exactly why the doctor started taking patients again.“The College of Physicians and Surgeons has not authorized Dr. Ramesh Sharma to return to practice,” he said. “Obviously this is something we will have to look into.”Blackman said that the college is still working with Sharma’s lawyers to set conditions that will allow him to return to work. The most likely condition would be that he only see patients while under supervision, Blackman said.“Terms and conditions that have normally been supplied will probably be the requirement of a chaperone,” he said. “We want to ensure (the public) is fully apprised of what concerns the college has.”The criminal charges arose following an incident at a Vernon seniors care facility in early July. Following a police investigation, charges were laid against Sharma.Sharma’s court case was up for arraignment at the Vernon Law Courts on Wednesday. The gallery was full of his patients and supporters including Charlotte Bychowski.The 91-year-old said she has been a patient of Sharma’s for more than a decade. In a letter to the editor she expressed her dismay that the college of physicians may prevent him from treating patients who are more than 70-years-old.“With Dr. Sharma’s care and support I continue to live alone and lead a very active and independent life,” she said. “I have no family here and I knew I could always count on him for advice and help when necessary.”Bychowski said that with the scarcity of available doctors many patients won’t know where to get much needed medical attention.“Dr. Sharma has compassion and loves his work,” she said. “How can the college even consider depriving Dr. Sharma’s older patients of his care?”In court, Sharma’s lawyer Mike Tammen advised that his client would be seeking a trial by jury in Vernon. A preliminary hearing for the trial will likely be scheduled for the spring, he said.
apparent miscommunication between the doctor and his lawyers, according to the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has been charged with abetting a patient’s suicide attempt.The deputy registrar for the college, Dr. Doug Blackman, said that once lawyers realized the error, Sharma was again told to stop practicing. Blackman said there will likely be an investigation to determine exactly why the doctor started taking patients again.“The College of Physicians and Surgeons has not authorized Dr. Ramesh Sharma to return to practice,” he said. “Obviously this is something we will have to look into.”Blackman said that the college is still working with Sharma’s lawyers to set conditions that will allow him to return to work. The most likely condition would be that he only see patients while under supervision, Blackman said.“Terms and conditions that have normally been supplied will probably be the requirement of a chaperone,” he said. “We want to ensure (the public) is fully apprised of what concerns the college has.”The criminal charges arose following an incident at a Vernon seniors care facility in early July. Following a police investigation, charges were laid against Sharma.Sharma’s court case was up for arraignment at the Vernon Law Courts on Wednesday. The gallery was full of his patients and supporters including Charlotte Bychowski.The 91-year-old said she has been a patient of Sharma’s for more than a decade. In a letter to the editor she expressed her dismay that the college of physicians may prevent him from treating patients who are more than 70-years-old.“With Dr. Sharma’s care and support I continue to live alone and lead a very active and independent life,” she said. “I have no family here and I knew I could always count on him for advice and help when necessary.”Bychowski said that with the scarcity of available doctors many patients won’t know where to get much needed medical attention.“Dr. Sharma has compassion and loves his work,” she said. “How can the college even consider depriving Dr. Sharma’s older patients of his care?”In court, Sharma’s lawyer Mike Tammen advised that his client would be seeking a trial by jury in Vernon. A preliminary hearing for the trial will likely be scheduled for the spring, he said.
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