The chief of surgery at a Parry Sound hospital has resigned after a hospital probe found his behaviour to nurses in the operating room to be disrespectful and “harassing.”

Dr. Bill Smyth, an orthopedic surgeon who will continue to do operations subject to a “zero tolerance” condition, will no longer have a management role at the West Parry Sound Health Centre. He has been told to apologize to those affected by his behaviour.

“The health centre asked for and has received, effective immediately, Dr. Smyth’s letter of resignation as Chief of the Department of Surgery,” hospital CEO Donald Sanderson told the Star Friday.

The Star revealed in December that nurses had made repeated complaints to officials at the hospital about Smyth, and nurses believed the hospital was stalling on the probe. Among the complaints reviewed by the Star were allegations that he made sexually harassing comments to nurses, was threatening and “bullying,” and that after an operation to amputate a patient’s toe he made a crude gesture with the toe sticking up between his fingers.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons, the body that regulates Ontario’s doctors, is investigating Smyth’s conduct as well. The Star has sent Smyth multiple requests for an interview and has not received a response.

In his first detailed public response to the allegations, Sanderson said that after complaints came to the hospital’s attention last year, a “third-party” expert was hired by the hospital to investigate a series of complaints.

The investigation has concluded that Smyth “engaged in behaviour that was found to be unprofessional, disrespectful and harassing in relation to these complainants,” Sanderson said.

Smyth, a colourful character who wears bloodstained work boots in the operation room joined the Parry Sound hospital in 2009 after he lost his privileges at a hospital southwest of Ottawa over allegations he created a “poisoned environment” among doctors and nurses there, according to an arbitrator’s report. Smyth, whose orthopedic surgery specialty brings in many patients and dollars to the hospital, was appointed Parry Sound’s chief of surgery in 2015.

Sanderson said the hospital has decided to give Smyth the “opportunity to correct his behaviour under very strict and imposed conditions.” Smyth must take and “ethics and boundaries program” and counselling sessions with an “expert communications coach.”

Smyth must also “provide a written apology for his behaviour to those complainants whose complaints have been substantiated,” Sanderson said. He did not say which complaints, or how many complaints, have been substantiated.

“The health centre has informed Dr. Smyth that he will, at all times, conduct himself professionally with zero tolerance for any further disrespectful, unprofessional or harassing behaviour,” Sanderson said in his statement.

Hospital chief of staff Dr. Terence Fargher will step in as chief of surgery until a new chief is appointed.

The West Parry Sound Health Centre, with 70 acute care beds and a busy emergency room that is often jammed in the summer months, is a key hospital for the region east of Georgian Bay, hours away from hospitals in Barrie, Toronto, Sudbury and North Bay.

During the Star’s investigation, several people contacted the Star to defend Smyth, saying that though he may appear odd, he is a very good surgeon. One man, who said his girlfriend works at the hospital, said that Smyth — whose email address is “drbonebanger” — “can appear to be a bit eccentric, and/or off the wall with some things being construed not very tasteful by some … he is a skilled surgeon whose patients I’m sure would speak highly of his acumen.”

Smyth’s website lists dozens of testimonials, including one that refers to him as an “amazing human” and another saying the patient is “very pleased with my new hip.”

Six nurses interviewed by the Star complained to the hospital detailing what one called a “sickening” atmosphere in the hospital’s operating room and halls, where they said they had seen Smyth hit or kick nurses as he walked by.

One nurse said that as he prepared for an operation, Smyth made “honking sounds” with his hands toward her breasts. Another said he sent a novice nurse to get a “pedonga” dilator, a device that does not exist. The complainant explained that Smyth uses “pedonga” as slang for vagina and when the nurse returned empty-handed, he and the other doctors were laughing.

Other nurses alleged that Smyth sometimes refuses to provide key clinical information to other doctors and nurses who take over a patient’s care following surgery. “It’s the hospital’s problem. Let them figure it out,” one nurse recalled him saying.

Another nurse complained that she felt unsafe when, while she was alone in a room, Smyth came in and stared at her until she blushed. She complained that Smyth called in another doctor and laughed, pointing out how he had made her “get red for Big Daddy.”

As to the allegation involving the toe, the nurses said Smyth explained to them it is a ritual for him. Following a toe amputation — sometimes required for complications related to diabetes — Smyth would take the toe and stick it between his fingers in a “f--- you” gesture, the nurses said.

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After the Star first reported this allegation in December, several former patients reached out in an effort to determine whose toe had been used.

In his written response, Sanderson said the hospital has begun the “work needed to restore relationships and create a professional work environment for our staff.”

“As a healing organization, I understand that quality care for our patients and their families requires our staff to be supported and respected,” Sanderson wrote. “We continue to learn from this issue and at no time have we wavered in our ability to provide safe, high quality care to our patients and the community.”