The Very Bad Doctor

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Additional content warning: this episode includes mention of intimate partner violence, suicidal ideation, and grooming and sexual assault of an underage person. No graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.

A doctor repeatedly and intentionally betrays his oath to do no harm, setting off a chain reaction that escalates to murder. 

More info:

• Fatal Prescription: A Doctor Without Remorse, written by John Griffiths & Shelly Charalambus

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This month we have donated to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, who offer support, research and education to survivors, victims and their families.

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Credits:
Research by Eileen Macfarlane
Additional research, writing, sound design, narration: Kristi Lee
Audio editing and production: We Talk of Dreams
Production assistance: Jesse Hawke
Script consulting: Carol Weinberg
Disclaimer voiced by Erik Krosby

Music credits:
Theme songs (intro & outro) by We Talk of Dreams
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions 

RESOURCES AND INFORMATION SOURCES

COURT DOCUMENTS:

• R. v. West, 1997 CanLII 3157 (BC CA), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• R. v. Charalambous, 1997 CanLII 3363 (BC CA), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• Charalambous v. College of Physicians & Surgeons of British Columbia, 1987 CanLII 2845 (BC SC)

• Charalambous v. Canada (Attorney General), 2016 FCA 177 (CanLII), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• Charalambous v. Canada (Attorney General), 2009 FC 1082 (CanLII), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• Josephakis Charalambous v. Attorney General of Canada, 2017 CanLII 1337 (SCC), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• Charalambous v. Canada, 2004 FC 4 (CanLII), retrieved on 2023-10-22

• Charalambous v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 FC 1045 (CanLII), retrieved on 2023-10-22

BOOK:

• Griffiths, John. Fatal Prescription: A Doctor without Remorse (pp. 220-221). John Griffiths. Kindle Edition. 

Charalambous trial:

• newspapers.com/clip/108676169/  

• newspapers.com/clip/108676533/ 

• newspapers.com/image/495062648/?terms=%22david%20schlender%22%20&match=1 

• newspapers.com/image/503112505/?terms=%22sian%20simmonds%22

• newspapers.com/clip/108676590/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108676233/

• newspapers.com/image/502864889/?terms=Monjjyet%20Nareg&match=1&clipping_id=109118778

• newspapers.com/image/495062648/?terms=%22david%20schlender%22%20&match=1

• newspapers.com/clip/109416926/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109409289/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109118836/ 

• newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun/109416926/

• newspapers.com/clip/109419758/  

• newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun/109420130/

• newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun/109424939/

• newspapers.com/image/503113819/?terms=%22katie%20simmonds%22&match=1 

• newspapers.com/article/the-province/108676129/

• newspapers.com/article/the-province/133386086/

• newspapers.com/image/503112505/?terms=%22sian%20simmonds%22

• newspapers.com/image/503113499/?terms=%22sian%20simmonds%22&match=1

• https://www.newspapers.com/image/503112961/

• newspapers.com/image/503113567/?terms=%22sian%20simmonds%22&match=1 

• newspapers.com/image/495592841/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1

• newspapers.com/image/495593033/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1

• newspapers.com/image/495593393/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1 

• newspapers.com/image/495595082/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1

• newspapers.com/image/495586521/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1 

• newspapers.com/image/495586782/?terms=%22brian%20west%22&match=1 

• newspapers.com/clip/109424939/

• newspapers.com/clip/109424975/ 

• newspapers.com/image/494943656/?clipping_id=108671752&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjQ5NDk0MzY1NiwiaWF0IjoxNjk3MjI4OTYwLCJleHAiOjE2OTczMTUzNjB9.6gJjsOKXFyIWhIgHm5-u3sScdEHEnw67GynN9PVcDpE

• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun/109468141/ 

Shelley testimony

• newspapers.com/clip/108722042/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109423156/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109422941/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109422820/ 

Schlender testimony 

• newspapers.com/clip/109469079/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108676303/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108676422/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108676470/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722086/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722094/ 

• PRESS, FROM CANADIAN. "Doctor tells murder trial he was trying to scare sisters." Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada), November 4, 1994: A9. NewsBank: Access World News 

• PRESS, FROM CANADIAN. "'Nothing to offer' police in slaying, MD says." Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada), November 5, 1994: A9. NewsBank: Access World News. 

• MERTL, STEVE. "Doctor charged in murder of patient who complained." Kingston Whig-Standard, The (Ontario, Canada), November 5, 1994: 5. NewsBank: Access World News.

AFTERMATH OF CHARALAMBOUS TRIAL

• Day parole granted for man who arranged to have B.C. sisters murdered in 1993 | Vancouver Sun 

• newspapers.com/clip/108676653/

• newspapers.com/clip/108722928/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722134/ 

Charalambous was sentenced to life in prison and began his sentence in 1994.

• Charalambous v. Canada (Attorney General), 2009 FC 1082 (CanLII)

• newspapers.com/clip/108722137/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722143/ 

Public inquiry rejected 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722156/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722180/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722197/ 

Removed from medical register 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722783/ 

Charges dropped for procuring

• newspapers.com/clip/108722812/ 

TRIAL - WEST

• newspapers.com/clip/108722763/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722778/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722796/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722834/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722843/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722847/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722860/ 

Chris calls for an inquiry again Nov 1995 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722896/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722909/ 

SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES STAYED

• newspapers.com/clip/108671956/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108675631/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108723003/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108723057/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722812/ 

CHARALAMBOUS APPEALS

• newspapers.com/clip/108722963/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722993/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108723035/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108723044/

• newspapers.com/clip/108722943/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722982/ 

• Jones, Natasha. "Faint hope clause legislation won't impact Langley girl's killer." Langley Times (British Columbia, Canada), June 9, 2009: 4. NewsBank: Access World News. 

• CAVEAT STOPWATCH - March 1995 

Day parole granted 2016 

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/15CDD3C538393810. 

Denied parole, May 2020

Summary articles 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722098/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722108/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722115/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722122/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108722125/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/109469095/ 

• PRESS, FROM CANADIAN. "Doctor found guilty in patient's murder Judge hands him two life sentences." Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada), November 30, 1994: A4. NewsBank: Access World News.

• CP. "DOCTOR GUILTY OF MURDERING EX-PATIENT//FAMILY JUSTICE." Toronto Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), December 1, 1994: 64. NewsBank: Access World News.

• Former Coquitlam doctor, karate instructor denied parole for murder-for-hire - Tri-City News 

About CAVEAT:

• newspapers.com/clip/108675852/

• newspapers.com/clip/108671873/the-vancouver-sun/ 

• newspapers.com/clip/108671379/ 

• CAVEAT STOPWATCH - March 1995