An Oakville family doctor showed a “callous disregard” for some of his female patients’ dignity with his “careless” physical exams, a discipline panel found Friday.

The five-member panel at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario suspended Dr. Clarence Clottey’s licence for one year and banned him from doing breast, pelvic and rectal exams on any patient.

Clottey pleaded no contest to a charge of professional misconduct with regards to his physical exams of five female patients, meaning he does not contest the facts but also does not admit guilt. At the same time, the college withdrew the allegation that the 59-year-old physician sexually abused the patients.

“We are dismayed, distressed and disappointed in your callous disregard for your patients’ dignity and comfort,” panel chair Dr. Carole Clapperton told Clottey in a public reprimand at the college.

“It is clear that the long term effects of your misconduct have been significant with some of your patients. They no longer trust male physicians. Your actions besmirch the reputation of the whole profession and that affects us all.”

Clottey failed to have a chaperone present when conducting a physical exam on the five patients who formed part of the college’s case, as well as failed to explain the rationale for the exam and obtain the patients’ informed consent, according to a statement of uncontested facts filed at the discipline hearing.

Clottey applied pressure on their nipples and/or touched their clitoris during physical exams without a proper explanation, making them feel uncomfortable and distressed, according to the statement.

“I have flashbacks and nightmares. I fear male doctors and older men,” one patient said in a victim impact statement that was read by college prosecutor Simmy Dhamrait.

“My hopelessness prevented me from doing my work and in turn caused me to be more hopeless,” said another patient in a statement.

The patients were the same complainants in Clottey’s criminal sexual assault case, in which they all testified in court as did Clottey. He was acquitted by a judge of the sexual assault charges in 2018.

He was arrested on a new sexual assault charge last year by Halton regional police, according to his profile on the college’s public register. The alleged offence took place in 2014. The college said in a statement that it is aware of the recent charge and will monitor the criminal proceedings. Under Ontario law, a physician found guilty in criminal court of sexual assault must have their licence revoked.

His lawyer, Jennifer McKendry, told the discipline panel that Clottey accepts the penalty imposed on him, but said the process had taken its toll on the doctor.

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“Dr. Clottey appears before you today truly and sincerely humbled and frankly exhausted by a process that has taken four years to unfold,” she said, going on to say the process has caused him much stress and financial difficulties.

“It would be an understatement to say this process has deeply, deeply affected Dr. Clottey and his family.”