A doctor at Sick Kids has been arrested for charges related to child sexual abuse material.
A professional trusted with the care of sick children.
Proving, once again, that men’s violence against women and children is not committed by ‘monsters’ in dark alleys, but by men from all walks of life, including many in high, respected positions.
As a member of the SickKids Lotus Protocol Advisory Committee, and as an organization that has worked alongside survivors of child sexual exploitation and trafficking for many years, we believe this moment calls for courageous leadership, transparency, and a response that places the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children above all else.
We respectfully urge SickKids to initiate a comprehensive, independent investigation into any potential abuse or exploitation of Dr. Dissanayake’s patients and to ensure that all potentially affected children and families receive proactive, trauma-informed care and support.
Read our open letter below.
UPDATE: SickKids responded to our letter while another one of their employees is arrested for child luring.
On July 31, 2026, Aura Freedom received a response from SickKids. While their letter was thoughtful, it relied heavily on police findings and did not address our central concern: the institutional responsibility of one of Canada’s leading children’s hospitals to proactively safeguard patients and demonstrate accountability beyond the scope of a criminal investigation.
Since then, and only a few days later, a housekeeping employee at SickKids was arrested for child luring. Following this second arrest, SickKids has announced it will engage external experts to review its current processes, controls, and safeguards to prevent harm to children.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely and advocate for a response that places children’s safety, institutional accountability, and trauma-informed care at its centre.
Read SickKids’ response below.
