UMVA has learned that a family doctor in Ontario has been stripped of his licence to practise after abusing his trust with a patient he had known for 36 years, inflicting "devastating and lasting harm" on her emotional security and self-esteem.
The doctor, who had been a trusted figure in his patient's life, had been providing her with mental health and relationship guidance since she was 17. However, he betrayed that trust by engaging in a financial, social, emotional, and ultimately sexual relationship with her, which lasted for 11 years.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the doctor's behaviour included telling his patient she was his best friend and he loved her, sharing personal details, exchanging photos, lending her money, co-signing her lease, and even getting into her bed on multiple occasions. A forensic examination of her phone revealed an astonishing 6,475 text messages, 39 direct emails, and 11 phone calls between them.
The doctor's actions culminated in a hotel room encounter in July 2023, where he booked her a room, gave her his credit card, and then engaged in sexual intercourse. This egregious breach of professional boundaries has led to the automatic revocation of his licence under the Health Professions Act, which considers sexual intercourse between a doctor and patient as sexual abuse.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the doctor failed to respond to allegations or questions from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and did not contest allegations of sexual abuse, disgraceful conduct, or failure to respond to investigative inquiries. The tribunal's ruling emphasized that physicians must maintain professional boundaries, and that failure to do so can compromise patient care.
The patient, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, described the traumatic impact of the doctor's actions on her physical and mental health, including nightmares, sleep disturbance, and feelings of low self-worth. The doctor, who is reportedly the father of seven daughters, has been ordered to reimburse the college for almost $18,000 in counselling provided to the patient and pay $6,000 to cover the costs of the hearing.
In a clear message to the medical profession and the public, the decision states that there is zero tolerance for doctors who abuse their power and privilege by engaging in sexual abuse. The disgraced doctor has signed an undertaking not to treat patients anywhere ever again.
