Edmonton pediatrician charged with child pornography, permitted to practice again

Dr. Ghassan Al-Naami was arrested in April 2019, following an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams. The charges stem from allegations be uploaded child pornography to the internet, reported CBC.

ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit was notified about the images by the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre that July.

ALERT said in its initial news release that none of the offences were committed against children in Al-Naami's care.

After his arrest, Al-Naami was under a court-ordered release, including immediate withdrawal from his practice and refuting work in a position of trust or authority with minors under 16.

He previously practiced at the Bright Futures Clinic at 113th Avenue and 95th Street in Edmonton.

Al-Naami also practiced as a pediatrician in Fort McMurray from 2012 until early 2017.

However, a July 16 decision by the Court of Queen's Bench determined the college failed to reasonably reconsider a later request from Al-Naami to revoke the withdrawal. Whether he could return to the practice was up to the college, ruled the court.

The college outlined terms for Al-Naami's return to practice, including the presence of an approved health professional during all patient encounters. That also includes in-person or virtual meetings, regardless of a guardian present

"Signage, stating the above condition, must also be visible in his office," said a Thursday release.

Al-Naami is also not permitted to have an electronic photo or video file of any patient in his possession or record any virtual encounters with patients.

Al-Naami, who pleaded not guilty and awaits a criminal trial in January 2022, must provide a letter to all relevant adults he encounters highlighting these conditions.