A Thornhill doctor convicted of manslaughter in the 2003 death of his wife suffers from depression and may kill himself if he is incarcerated, a psychiatrist said in court today. Dr. Joseph Roncaioli has been “somewhat resistant” to treatment of his diagnosed major depressive disorder and is on four different types of medication, Dr. Kenneth Balderson said during a hearing in a Newmarket courtroom.
“Dr. Roncaioli has made a previous suicide attempt,” Dr. Balderson said.
In February, Dr. Roncaioli, 72, was found guilty of manslaughter in the poisoning death of his wife, Ibi.
An autopsy determined Ms Roncaioli died from multi-drug intoxication.
Alcohol, along with anesthetics Lidocaine and Bupivacaine were found in Ms Roncaioli’s blood.
Court heard the combination of those two drugs could be fatal.
Dr. Roncaioli admitted injecting her with the drugs, but disputed the amount, the Crown said.
Dr. Balderson was one of four medical professionals called by Dr. Roncaioli’s lawyer, J. David Hobson, during the hearing.
While testifying about Dr. Roncaioli’s character, Dr. William Francis, a former chief of staff at Toronto’s York-Finch General Hospital, said he had never heard anything negative about Dr. Roncaioli’s practice.
Dr. Roncaioli practised at York-Finch (now part of the Humber River Regional Hospital) between 1970 and “when this affair arrived on his doorstep,” Dr. Francis said.
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 27.