A Georgetown family doctor found to have sexually abused his patients by showing them naked photos of himself was described by one patient as a “slithery dragon” she sees in her nightmares, a penalty hearing at Ontario’s medical regulator heard Monday.

Dr. Nigel Mark Phipps was found guilty last year by a five-member discipline panel at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario of sexually abusing 11 female patients by showing them the naked selfies.

Phipps had admitted to the panel that he showed the patients and staff members an array of photos on his cell phone, but denied that it constituted sexual abuse. The photos included: one where Phipps is naked with his penis visible, one of Phipps’ naked buttocks, one where he’s naked from the groin up but where the genitals are not visible and a fourth showing him naked with a towel over his arm.

The panel also found that Phipps had an erection during two of the patient encounters.

Monday was the beginning of a three-day penalty hearing to decide what to do with Phipps’ licence, with the maximum penalty being revocation. The discipline panel heard from a number of patients through victim impact statements read by college prosecutor Elisabeth Widner.

“To this day I have nightmares of Dr. Phipps sitting at the table in the courtroom (discipline hearing room), yet in my dream he is a slithery dragon hunched over the table staring at me,” said one patient, whose name is covered by a standard publication ban. “Every night when I close my eyes this is what I see. A man who I once admired as an amazing doctor has left me with this impression that you cannot trust anyone because they will use it for their benefit.”

Several of the impact statements touched on a loss of trust in the medical profession due to Phipps’ actions, and particularly in male physicians.

“I have been left with distrust for medical male professionals which has totally affected my not receiving the medical care I require,” said another patient.

And yet another patient, who said she considered Phipps a casual friend, said she has replayed the experience of being shown the photos in her head, trying to talk herself out of what happened.

“The alternative was too uncomfortable,” she said. “For me, it was an inappropriate joke over which I was embarrassed and disturbed. It was definitely a surprise in his office.”

Read more:

Georgetown doctor who showed off naked selfies guilty of sex abuse

Sweeping cuts to legal clinics called a ‘directed attack’ on Toronto and organizations challenging Ford government

Ontario courts remain in technology’s dark ages, chief justice says

Phipps, 59, testified Monday and his defence team presented a number of character reference letters from patients and community members describing him as compassionate, kind and dedicated, who would cancel plans and time off in order to help a patient.

“He is valued in our community as a gifted and brilliant doctor,” one long-time female patient wrote. “I do not want to lose this exceptional doctor.”

Phipps testified that, through counselling, he’s come to realize he was going through major depression in the summer of 2014 when he showed patients the naked selfies, which he had described at the time as a joke.

“My understanding is that due to my depression I started to do self-destructive behaviour, without realizing what I was doing,” including showing the patients the naked selfies, he said.

He spoke about how he’s lost a number of his patients since the allegations were laid against him. He continues to practise with an active licence, but since 2015 can only see female patients in the presence of a chaperone. Phipps also said that it can be difficult going out into town at times, and that comments “that were hurtful” have been made to him in public.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“I tried to make excuses for my behaviour and yet really there was no excuse. I feel incredibly remorseful,” Phipps said on the stand while being examined by his lawyer, Jenny Stephenson.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to live down the shame that I feel. I just hope the panel is able to understand that I’m speaking honestly when I say I couldn’t feel worse for what I’ve done.”

The hearing is expected to conclude Wednesday. The panel will release its decision at a later date.