Anesthesiologiest found guilty of sexually assaulting women during surgery

[Aphro]

Holy crap. He put his penis in a sedated patient's mouth:?!?

http://www.680news.com/2013/11/19/v...nesthesiologist-accused-of-molesting-women-2/

Toronto doctor found guilty of sexually assaulting 21 women


Toronto doctor guilty of molesting 21 women during surgery


TORONTO – An anesthesiologist was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting 21 vulnerable, sedated women during surgeries, crimes the judge called “shocking and abhorrent.”

Dr. George Doodnaught relied on his three decades of operating room experience to avoid detection as he kissed women, fondled their breasts and put his penis in their mouth or hand, concealed from other medical staff only by a surgical drape, the judge found.

Doodnaught was known as a “touchy feely” doctor, often stroking a patient’s cheek or hair to soothe them during surgery, so his physical proximity during surgery didn’t arouse suspicion with other staff, the judge found.

“He was familiar with the surgical procedures and would know when it was safe to commit the relatively brief assaults without being seen,” Ontario Superior Court Judge David McCombs ruled.

“He had control over (his patients’) level of anesthesia and would have known that they could not openly resist. He relied on the amnesiac effects of the drugs to shield him from complaints.”

By the time the first of the 21 women went to police after her surgery on Feb. 11, 2010, North York General Hospital had, in fact, received three such complaints between 2006 and 2008, but had not acted on them.

The assaults rose “dramatically” in frequency until that woman went to police, the judge said. The first six assaults were spread over 3 1/2 years, while in the last six months before he was stopped there were 15, McCombs noted.

The hospital told Doodnaught to take a leave of absence after the last woman he assaulted went to police. The hospital said Tuesday the doctor would not be returning there and the College of Physicians and Surgeons will now determine his professional fate.

The woman, who can’t be identified due to a publication ban, said she was proud of the other women who came forward after Doodnaught was charged and police publicized his arrest, and she “finally” believes in the justice system.

“It never mattered to me what people thought of me or what they thought of any of the other victims,” the woman said. “It mattered to me what I knew had happened. I was awake. I knew it happened.”

Several of Doodnaught’s victims were in court as the verdict was read, and some people in the packed, standing room only courtroom could be heard sighing with relief or whispering “Yes.”

All but one of the assaults happened during surgeries at North York General Hospital, where the CEO said Tuesday that such crimes were previously unheard of and he isn’t aware of another case like this anywhere.

“The sacred bond of caring and trust was broken by a doctor who worked here,” Tim Rutledge said. “That he did this in an operating room, a place of ultimate trust, is difficult to understand and frankly shocking.”

Rutledge apologized on behalf of the hospital to all of the victims for the “profound impact” Doodnaught’s crimes have had on their lives. The hospital has since made changes to how it addresses and tracks patient complaints, he said.

The judge noted that the women did not know each other and were unaware of the particulars of other patients’ stories when they separately came forward.

“The complainants were sedated at the time of their surgeries and the sedation no doubt affected their ability to accurately perceive and remember events,” McCombs wrote in his decision.

“However, I have found that they were conscious and aware during significant parts of their surgeries and were able to recall these shocking and abhorrent events.”

The judge rejected the evidence of defence experts who suggested patients under conscious sedation could have hallucinated the sexual assaults. He said Crown evidence that such hallucinations are “virtually unheard of” is entitled to considerable weight.

Dr. George Mashour, an anesthetist who has researched awareness of patients during conscious sedation, said that while sexual hallucinations with the drugs Doodnaught used have been reported, they’re very rare and only occurred with much higher dosages than Doodnaught used, McCombs wrote.

Mashour testified that the odds are “vanishingly rare” that the drugs caused the patients to believe they were molested. If the drugs were to blame, he testified, he wouldn’t expect them all to relate to a single doctor.

Crown attorney David Wright said in a brief statement after the verdict that “justice has been served, 21 times.”

Doodnaught’s lawyer Brian Greenspan said his client is “very disappointed” by the verdict and may decide to appeal.

“It will take some time for him to review the judgment as well, provide us with instruction and consider what his position is and the position of his family,” he said outside court.

And the hospital where Doodnaught worked says changes have been made since these incidents came to light.

President and CEO Tim Rutledge also apologized to the patients.

“The sacred bond of caring and trust was broken by a doctor who worked here; that he did this in an operating room a place of ultimate trust is difficult to understand and frankly shocking.”

“I deeply regret that you experienced this type of violation, this should not have happened,” Rutledge said to the victims.

He also says changes have been made at the hospital to prevent anything like this from happening again.

“We’ve installed new software that helps us to document and track what we hear from our patients and enables us to connect incidences that have a similar profile,” explained Rutledge.

Doodnaught, who remains free on bail until sentencing, did not comment when he left the courthouse.

A date for sentencing arguments is to be set Dec. 13.

 

[Killswitch]

Dood naught aughta done that.

 

[Adre]

Damn, I have a dentist appt this afternoon. No gas for this guy.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Phelia]

Ugh. Awful.

I was out grabbing drinks with a few girlfriends when a group of men swooped in - they were a bunch of older married dudes, mostly from out of town. They tried chatting us up, and one was an anesthesiologist. He talked about ogling women on the operating table. "Oh, you can see everything - those gowns are thin."

So disturbing. And how casually and proudly he brought it up, too, like it was a funny thing we should all laugh at. Guh-ross.

 

[Aphro]

Ugh. Awful.

I was out grabbing drinks with a few girlfriends when a group of men swooped in - they were a bunch of older married dudes, mostly from out of town. They tried chatting us up, and one was an anesthesiologist. He talked about ogling women on the operating table. "Oh, you can see everything - those gowns are thin."

So disturbing. And how casually and proudly he brought it up, too, like it was a funny thing we should all laugh at. Guh-ross.

Jesus Christ, what a fucking obnoxious moron.

But seriously...you'd think this case is an anomaly. But maybe he's just the unlucky asshole who got CAUGHT doing it. How many others are doing similar shit and laughing about it with their buddies over drinks later?

 

[parodyluvr75]

And what did you say to him? Did you call him on his shit? I'd love to run into an asshole like that when they're drunk, I'd be very creative.

 

[unregistered]

 

[pointless]

Jesus Christ, what a fucking obnoxious moron.

But seriously...you'd think this case is an anomaly. But maybe he's just the unlucky asshole who got CAUGHT doing it. How many others are doing similar shit and laughing about it with their buddies over drinks later?

twenty seven.

 

[Phelia]

Jesus Christ, what a fucking obnoxious moron.

But seriously...you'd think this case is an anomaly. But maybe he's just the unlucky asshole who got CAUGHT doing it. How many others are doing similar shit and laughing about it with their buddies over drinks later?

For what it's worth, I don't think that guy would ever actually abuse anyone. It seemed like drunken posturing, more than anything (because being an asshole is impressive, I guess?). BUT, I'm sure he meant what he said about looking at women's bodies sexually while they were unconscious, and, ugh.

I mean, I get it. We're only human, and humans are sexual beings, many of whom are visually-oriented. If I'm being honest, I probably couldn't help but look sometimes, either. My eyes are drawn to nipples (because they're awesome). I'd like to think I wouldn't do it in that sort of context, because it's so disrespectful and medically unethical, but I just don't know.

I do know that I wouldn't be stupid or piggish enough to brag about it.

 

[Phelia]

And what did you say to him? Did you call him on his shit? I'd love to run into an asshole like that when they're drunk, I'd be very creative.

My friend said "that's disgusting," and he laughed. There were about four or five of them, I think. One guy seemed okay and had the decency to look embarrassed by his friends. We just made an excuse to leave. It was late, and we were drunk, too, and skeeved out. Perfectly good excuse to get in a fight with a fuckhead, squandered. We're lame.

 

[Laurel]

Ugh. Awful.

I was out grabbing drinks with a few girlfriends when a group of men swooped in - they were a bunch of older married dudes, mostly from out of town. They tried chatting us up, and one was an anesthesiologist. He talked about ogling women on the operating table. "Oh, you can see everything - those gowns are thin."

So disturbing. And how casually and proudly he brought it up, too, like it was a funny thing we should all laugh at. Guh-ross.

It's always so convenient and time-saving when nasty grossies are upfront and honest about their nasty grossness. Kinda like when criminals are so stupid that they call the cops on themselves.

 

[pointless]

he was a drunk, old, married dude. he was probably just going all stream of consciousness because his brain was on the fritz from the booze and lack of practice. hitting on chicks is stressful, man.

but, yeah, that's not something you're supposed to admit to even if you do it, but he did it. he didn't get laid. consider that his just deserts for being stupid and pervy.

 

[Phelia]

It's always so convenient and time-saving when nasty grossies are upfront and honest about their nasty grossness. Kinda like when criminals are so stupid that they call the cops on themselves.

I know! Some are even kind enough to give a visual cue (wearing a Livestrong bracelet).

If you're wearing a Livestrong bracelet, I was totally kidding. I'm sure you're a great person.

(I wasn't kidding.)

he was a drunk, old, married dude. he was probably just going all stream of consciousness because his brain was on the fritz from the booze and lack of practice. hitting on chicks is stressful, man.

but, yeah, that's not something you're supposed to admit to even if you do it, but he did it. he didn't get laid. consider that his just deserts for being stupid and pervy.

Oh, no, I totally fucked him. On top of the bar, in front of everyone.

 

[unregistered]

 

[pointless]

gross. people put their drinks there, you cunt.

 

[chillywilly2]

Ugh. Awful.

I was out grabbing drinks with a few girlfriends when a group of men swooped in - they were a bunch of older married dudes, mostly from out of town. They tried chatting us up, and one was an anesthesiologist. He talked about ogling women on the operating table. "Oh, you can see everything - those gowns are thin."

So disturbing. And how casually and proudly he brought it up, too, like it was a funny thing we should all laugh at. Guh-ross.

I know lots of nurses that check out penis size on patients.

Hey, did you see the size of the guy in 4B, you gotta go check that out

But the Dr assualting patients when they are out is just wrong.