An ongoing investigation resulted with Toronto Police laying an additional 26 charges of assault against Dr. George Doodnaught. Doodnaught was charged with sexually assaulting three female patients in March 2010 for assaults that allegedly occurred between August 2007 and February 2010. Dr. Doodnaught worked as an anesthesiologist at Toronto's North York General Hospital.
Other Sex Assault Victims Came Forward
After the first three charges were laid in March, police asked women who believed they were sexually abused to come forward. As a result, police laid these additional charges after twenty-six women came forward and accused the 61-year old doctor of sexual assault while under his care. These alleged sex assaults happened between 1992 and 2010.
All but one of these assaults allegedly took place at North York General Hospital in Toronto. The other assault took place in another facility.
Police stated that the first three assaults that were investigated happened while the women were under anesthesia and undergoing surgical procedures in hospital. It is believed the other assaults happened under similar circumstances.
Dr. Doodnaught's employment privileges have been revoked since the police investigation began.
How Did Victims Know of Sex Abuse?
CBC reported that it has not been made clear how the victims knew they were sexually abused. There were no cameras in the operating room. Dr. David White, North York General Hospital’s chief of staff said in March that it was possible for a patient to be alone with an anesthesiologist. White also stated that the police investigation would look into whether these allegations are the result of dreams that some patients experience due to various medications and different types of anesthesia.
Meanwhile, Dr. Doodnaught appeared in a Toronto court today and was granted bail. None of the previous allegations against him have been proven.
Sex Abuse by Doctors
Sex abuse allegations against doctors are not uncommon. On June 14, 2010, KPHO News in Arizona reported that a Phoenix doctor was arrested and accused of perpetrating sexual abuse and physical abuse on one of his patients. A 28-year old woman claimed that Dr. Galen Johnson, an ob-gyn assaulted her during an examination.
The worst case of sex abuse by doctors in Delaware saw closure earlier this year. A Delaware grand jury returned a sweeping indictment Monday against a pediatrician accused of serial molestation. This case is suspected to be one of the worst child sex abuse cases in the history of the United States.
A 160-page indictment charges Dr. Earl Bradley of Lewes with 471 counts of sexual crimes against 103 children. MSNBC reported on February 23, 2010, that Attorney General Beau Biden said all the victims, including one boy, were caught on more than thirteen hours of video recordings, some dating as far back as 1998.
The charges against this former pediatrician include sexual exploitation of a child, rape, unlawful sexual contact, assault, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and reckless endangering.
Bradley’s medical license was permanently revoked by the state Board of Medical Practice.
One of the worst transgressions in a doctor/ patient relationship is when the doctor uses his power to have sex with the person who has put her trust in him. Any form of abuse or an assault by any medical professional must be reported to police.
Sources:
KPHO News Arizona
Karen Stephenson - Karen has written for several newspapers and print media in addition to many online publications. She holds a B.A. in English and an ...
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