Women who waited years to face a prominent Brampton physician who they allege assaulted them were left frustrated and angry Tuesday as Ontario’s medical regulator withdrew its allegations of sexual abuse.Dr. Brian Thicke, 90, instead pleaded no contest at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to allegations of professional misconduct with respect to 14 female patients and one female nurse, and agreed never to reapply for a medical licence in any jurisdiction.“I’m absolutely disappointed,” said Lisa Fruitman, whose complaint that Thicke allegedly groped her breasts during two physical exams kick-started the case against Thicke. “We need to change the system. The system is broken.”Fruitman was one of three complainants in the case, along with patient Miryana Golubovich and nurse Cheryl Thorpe. All three women requested that a standard publication ban be removed from their identities. Fruitman first shared her story with the Toronto Star in 2017, after which more than a dozen other complainants came forward to the college.Thicke’s plea means that he does not admit guilt, but does not contest the facts presented Tuesday by the college to a discipline panel and accepts that the panel can find them correct. The plea also means that a lengthy discipline hearing was scrapped and complainants would not have to testify, though Golubovich said she had been ready to take the stand. “I wanted to tell my story, look the panel in the eyes and tell them everything he had done to me,” she told reporters. “I think this is all a joke.”The facts to which Thicke pleaded no contest included that, in many of the 14 female patients’ cases, he failed to explain to patients the rationale for a breast exam, failed to obtain informed consent before proceeding with the exam, did not provide privacy to undress or proper draping or a gown, according to a statement of uncontested facts filed at the hearing Tues ...
|
