Warning: Graphic details follow.

It couldn’t have happened.

Such was the disbelief of family, friends, doctors and hospital administrators as female patients confided they’d been sexually assaulted while semi-conscious, on the operating table, by anesthesiologist Dr. George Doodnaught.

Some of the victims even doubted themselves, so persistently were they told that the very idea was preposterous, that they’d likely hallucinated the events, dreamt it under sedation.

But they were telling the truth.

In 2013, Doodnaught — who practised at North York General Hospital for more than a quarter-century — was convicted on 21 counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years.

Twenty-one victims, aged 25 to 75. Except there were actually more but their complaints weren’t included in the prosecution’s case for various reasons.

Such as the woman who was basically cast aside on the allegation — adamantly denied — that she’d subsequently made a phone call to the doctor.

Patient P, she was, in the statement of “uncontested facts and plea of no contest” presented Tuesday to a disciplinary panel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons on Ontario.

“Thank you for allowing me to finally have a voice,” Patient P said in her victim impact statement, read aloud.

The middle-aged woman, a wife and mother, had undergone surgery for bilateral knee replacement. But even under the fog of anesthetic, she realized that Doodnaught (who apparently couldn’t be seen by doctors and nurses in the operating room, seated at the head of the patient, behind a screen) had rubbed her breast, while she murmured “no, no”; then placed his penis in her palm, using that hand to masturbate himself.

“I still have nightmares about that day. I just don’t have them nightly anymore. It’s been eight and a half years. I thought the anxiety would go away. But it stays with me forever.”

Eleven further women are listed on the agreed statement of facts, their names protected by a publication ban. Thirty-two victims in all, two of whom are now deceased.

Doodnaught’s appeal of the conviction was unanimously rejected last October. He hadn’t been granted bail pending the appeal.

On Tuesday, after so many years, the college finally revoked his medical licence, effective immediately.

Although Doodnaught had the right to be present, he was not in the hearing room. His lawyer, Eli Mogil, would not explain to a reporter why not.

For the disciplinary panel, Doodnaught pleaded “no contest” on three allegations: that he’d engaged in acts of sexual impropriety with patients, sexual abuse of patients, and “disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional” misconduct. He made an “admission” on a fourth allegation, agreeing that he’d been found guilty by a trial judge, making him unsuitable for the profession.

But Doodnaught, through his lawyer, indicated he might argue against the college lawyer’s submission that he refund $497,860 — the cost of therapy for the women. That will be addressed at a later hearing.

“It helps to finally speak out,” Patient P said afterwards. “Taking away his licence to practice takes away his power. It’s imperfect but I’m satisfied.

She still suffers from anxiety and depression, can’t venture out alone. And every time she undergoes further surgeries, for ongoing medical issues, she turns into a basket case, distrusting medical institutions.

Some of what Doodnaught did, as reviewed in the documents before the panel:

Fondled patients’ breasts, placed his penis in their mouths, used their hands to massage his genitals, inserted his tongue into their mouths — telling them, when they demanded to know what had happened, because they felt it, knew it, were outraged and ashamed because of it — that they had fondled him throughout the surgery — admonishing one woman afterwards “don’t go fondling any more doctors.” One woman, semi-conscious under anaesthetic, recalled Doodnaught making sexual comments to her: “You reached for me as soon as you went under.” He further asked her if she would “suck him off” when her husband wasn’t home, said he’d come over to “give her a good f---.”

To another, who’d asked him more than once during the surgery “do I have to do this” as he squeezed her breasts and placed his penis in her hand, he responded that it was part of her healing, part of the surgery. And, afterwards, whispering to the patient: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

Yet another was terrified when he phoned her several weeks after surgery, claiming she’d invited him to come see her garden.

Patient Q said that during surgery for hip replacement, Doodnaught told her: “You are a sexy lady. Do you do blow jobs?” And he squeezed her breasts hard, causing pain. She tried to protest was unable.

Many of the women, living with their humiliation, seized by post-traumatic stress disorder, came forward only after media reports that Doodnaught had been charged with sexual assault.

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

Some had reported the abuse to loved ones, others had complained to social workers and hospital officials, detail how on occasion the violations had continued when they were in the recovery room.

Not believed. Discounted. Assured it was just their imagination and the drugs.

Four victim impact statements were read Tuesday — two by college lawyer Carolyn Silver.

But Patient DD — Debra Dreise, who waived the publication ban — spoke for herself.

“I was Doodnaught’s last victim. And I came forward not for myself. I thought I was the only one. But I knew he had to be stopped. I knew what he was doing wasn’t right. I did not expect that it would turn out to be as big a thing as it did.”

This mother of young twins had gone in for a hysterectomy. During the surgery, Doodnaught fondled her breasts, stuck his penis in her mouth. She could not believe what was happening, said to the anesthesiologist: “What about the other people?” Meaning, the other medical personnel in the room. To which he responded: “Don’t worry, I know how to be discreet.”

She awoke in her hospital room later to find Doodnaught caressing her cheek. Disclosing the incident to a nurse, she was told: “Are you sure it wasn’t the drugs?” That, in return, led Dreise to make a formal complaint.

Dreise: “On February 11, 2010, the actions of Mr. Doodnaught significantly changed my life, my health, and most importantly my family. His selfish abuse of power and authority changed who I am. I have nightmares, flashbacks, sleepless nights, panic attacks and I am no longer able to trust people. I am not only trying to deal only with the event itself, but also the aftermath. I have distanced myself from friends and loved ones.

“He has robbed me of my dignity, my normal life with my husband and most importantly with my children. I have sought help dealing with this trauma and am slowly getting stronger as the days have passed ...”

She won’t address him as doctor.

“Mr. Doodnaught’s selfish disregard for the damage he has caused has left me ashamed and feeling worthless. I am not sure of Mr. Doodnaught fully understands the impact that has actions have had on everyone…

“I am confused by the guilt that I feel and the humiliation. His actions have left me paralyzed with fear and uncertain of my judgment, so much so that I have been unable to work or to leave without being accompanied my husband…”

Fear, anger, bitterness and cringing from physical contact.

“All of this caused by someone I was supposed to trust. I once believed in doctors. I believed they could do no wrong and were held in the highest regard. That all changed … when instead of being in a safe, protected place, Mr. Doodnaught turned a hospital into a place of torment.”

She struggled with her decision to report “his disgusting, perverted act.

“I hope your horrible, filthy, deviant actions and the choices that you have made will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

Doodnaught is eligible for full parole in October.