UMVA has learned that a glimmer of hope remains for the numerous female patients who bravely came forward with allegations of sexual assault against the disgraced neurologist, Jeffrey Scott Sloka.
A Kitchener judge's shocking decision to acquit Sloka on all 48 charges of sexual assault was met with widespread outrage, but the Crown has now filed a notice to appeal, arguing that the judge made critical errors in at least four key areas of the law.
The judge's scathing criticism of the 48 complainants, labeling their testimonies as unreliable and tainted by media coverage, has been widely condemned, with prosecutors specifically highlighting the judge's reliance on "myth-based and stereotypical reasoning" about how a sexual assault complainant would behave in a doctor-patient context.
The allegations against Sloka are particularly egregious, with patients accusing him of performing invasive and unnecessary exams, including touching their breasts and conducting pelvic and rectal exams under the guise of legitimate medical procedures.
In a stark contrast to the judge's findings, a disciplinary tribunal concluded in 2019 that Sloka had indeed engaged in sexual abuse, revoking his license to practice medicine and ordering him to pay $64,240 in therapy costs for his victims.
The tribunal's ruling was unequivocal, describing Sloka's behavior as "deplorable" and highlighting his predation on vulnerable young women, including a teenager, who were subjected to his abuse under the guise of medical examinations.
The acquittals had a devastating impact on the survivors, with many reporting that the verdict "reopened wounds" and reinforced their fears about coming forward, according to Sara Casselman, executive director of the Sexual Assault Support Centre for Waterloo Region.
Casselman emphasized the importance of the Crown's appeal, stating that a case of this magnitude raises serious concerns for survivors and public confidence in the administration of justice, and that every available legal mechanism must be fully and rigorously considered.
As the appeal process unfolds, the question remains: can these brave women endure the ordeal of a retrial, and will justice finally be served for the heinous crimes they allege Sloka committed against them?
