Six B.C. doctors disciplined for sexual misconduct in 2007

One doctor has been erased from the register of the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons and five others were suspended for various lengths of time for sexual misconduct with patients in 2007.

A Maple Ridge general practitioner received an 18-month suspension and was assessed $5,000 in costs for his conduct with a female patient.

While he was conducting a vaginal exam of the woman, Dr. Deepakkumar Vallabbai Patidar hit on his patient for a date.

The vaginal exam "did not meet the requisite standard of care and . . . was reasonably perceived as sexualized by the patient," said the report.

Dr. Patidar later phoned the patient and suggested they meet socially.

He was ordered to undergo counselling, take remedial education and have his practice monitored once it resumes after his suspension expires in January 2009.

Dr. Tim Kom Wou, also a GP, admitted he was guilty of "infamous and unprofessional conduct in exposing himself to two patients during physical examinations in 2004," said the report.

He withdrew from practice in September 2004, had his name erased from the register two years later and was assessed costs of $7,500.

The college's annual report noted the Canadian Medical Association's code of ethics on sexual misconduct warns all physicians to "consider first the well-being of the patient, [to] practise the profession of medicine in a manner that treats the patient with dignity and as a person worthy of respect [and] not exploit for personal advantage."

aivens@theprovince.com

Staff Reporter, The Province
Published: Thursday, July 17, 2008

© The Vancouver Province 2008