A 44-year-old rheumatologist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, Dilan Dissanayake, has been arrested and charged with accessing and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

The investigation, led by the Toronto Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, uncovered evidence of the alleged offenses between January 19 and 28.During a February search warrant execution at SickKids and his private residence, electronic devices—including a work computer—were seized.Dissanayake was granted $20,000 bail with conditions prohibiting access to social media and online messaging platforms.The hospital placed him on immediate leave and condemned the alleged behavior, emphasizing patient safety as its priority.His medical registration was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

While no evidence links the material to his work, the case highlights concerns about professional accountability and digital misconduct in healthcare settings.Dissanayake’s profile has been removed from SickKids’ website but remains accessible via the Internet Archive.The incident underscores ongoing challenges in balancing medical expertise with ethical conduct.