Bold truth: a Calgary psychiatrist has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct by a CPSA Hearing Tribunal, signaling a serious and scrutinized breach of medical standards. But here’s where it gets controversial: the details reveal nuanced concerns about how patient information is interpreted, recorded, and communicated across care teams.
Professional Conduct Report — December 2025 — College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
Read time: about 1 minute
Recent hearing outcome
Dr. Anike Atigari, a psychiatrist based in Calgary, was adjudicated by a CPSA Hearing Tribunal to have engaged in unprofessional conduct. After evaluating witness testimony and all available evidence, the Tribunal established four proven charges against Dr. Atigari. These included:
- Diagnosing a patient without adequately weighing relevant information and prematurely discarding an established diagnosis without sufficient justification.
- Failing to prepare a thorough record of the patient’s assessment or a consultation report for the patient’s referring family physician.
- Inadequate assessments of two additional patients, given the provided reasons for their referrals, reported histories, and expressed concerns.
- Producing a consultation report for a patient’s family physician that did not accurately reflect the patient’s history as conveyed.
Three other allegations of unprofessional conduct were withdrawn, and the Tribunal found the remaining charges unproven. You can review the full decision of the Hearing Tribunal on CPSA’s website: https://search.cpsa.ca/Complaints?fn=029024-000021230511-OT-1.
Future proceedings
The Hearing Tribunal will reconvene at a later date to deliberate on sanctions, considering recommendations from both the prosecution and defense.
Why this matters
This case underscores the critical importance of careful diagnostic reasoning, meticulous documentation, and precise communication with referring physicians. In medicine, how we record and report can influence treatment decisions and patient safety, making adherence to robust standards non-negotiable.
What do you think about how documentation and clear reporting affect patient outcomes? Are there aspects of this case you agree with or disagree with regarding diagnostic rigor and record-keeping? Share your perspective in the comments.
