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Patients left wondering after suspension

Some of Dr.

Some of Dr. Suresh Katakkar's former patients are not only upset they'll no longer be able to see their doctor, they also don't like how the process surrounding the suspension to the former chief oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency of the North was handled.

When Katakkar was suspended in late May, pending a review of his practices, patients were told he was on leave and were left hanging as to when he might be back.

"It was like the carpet had been pulled from under our feet. It was like we'd been shot," Terry Fedorkiw said when her family found out the news.

Her husband Rob had been one of Katakkar's patients and they credited the doctor with getting Rob access to a preferred treatment.

"Then we were terrified, because we thought how is our cancer treatment going to continue now that we haven't got Dr. Katakkar," Terry added.

She was upset that no one was able to give Rob or her family and indication as to when Katakkar would return or what prompted the sudden leave.

"It was closed mouths," she said. "It was like he left in disgrace. That was awful, that was an awful thing."

Dr. Charles Blanke, vice-president of systematic therapy at the BC Cancer Agency, said his organization could only provide so much information without violating confidentiality provisions.

"I absolutely understand their desire for quick and fulsome communication," Blanke said. "I will say to some extent there are rules about confidentiality and privacy relating to both Dr. Katakkar and the patients themselves that we felt limited some of the desired communication."