Two Hamilton doctors have been handed suspensions by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Dr. Koma Israel, a general practitioner with a clinic on Upper Gage Avenue, was suspended from practice for one month after pleading no contest to an allegation he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct with a patient.

Dr. Alan Taniguchi, a palliative care physician and assistant clinical professor at McMaster University, was suspended for two months for failing to maintain the standard of practice.

In Israel’s case, the complaint stemmed from an appointment with a female patient.

During the appointment, Israel told his patient “a woman needs a man and that maybe her problem was that she did not have a husband or a boyfriend,” according to the college’s decision.

Israel also asked the patient “in an inappropriate and unprofessional manner whether she was attaining sexual satisfaction by masturbating.”

The college said Israel’s comments to the patient were “degrading,” “insensitive” and “disrespectful.”

Israel has already served his one-month suspension, which ran from May 14 to June 14. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in costs to the college.

In Taniguchi’s case, the college initiated an investigation after he was found to have not followed through with certain undertakings put in place in 2017, including a requirement to work with a clinical supervisor.

After reviewing his practice, the investigation found Taniguchi’s documentation was consistent with a physician who practised “at a distance,” that his assessments and plans were cursory, and there was limited evidence of physical examinations of patients.

“Dr. Taniguchi was not readily available to assess patients in a timely fashion,” the investigation found, “and his lack of availability was concerning.”

In response to the findings, Taniguchi told the college he was “feeling overwhelmed by his professional responsibilities, and was struggling to cope.”

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To address the issues, Taniguchi was planning to reduce his workload, cut down on his academic responsibilities and see a counsellor to develop better stress management skills.

Taniguchi’s suspension commenced on May 11 and concludes July 11. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in costs to the college.