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Health care professionals found guilty of sexual assault will face a lifetime ban on practising in Alberta under changes to a new government bill.

Under the first iteration of Bill 21, doctors and other health-care professionals found guilty of sexually abusing patients would have been forced to turn in their licences for a minimum of five years.

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The bill had already made it to third reading before the government executed a backflip Thursday morning and sent it back to the floor for more debate.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman told media on her way into the legislature Thursday afternoon that the change came after consulting with survivors and the agencies who support them.

“We think we want to go further,” she said.

Along with the lifetime ban change, Thursday’s amendments mean those found guilty of sexual misconduct face penalties ranging from suspension to license cancellation or a lifetime ban.