Dr William Arthur Damian Beairsto stroked the patient’s buttocks, kissed her breasts and made remarks that she “would make a good lover”
The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: A Toronto doctor has lost his licence and been fined $40,000 for inappropriately touching a female patient and making sexual remarks over a period of many years.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has revoked the licence of Dr William Arthur Damian Beairsto who stroked the patient’s buttocks, kissed her breasts and made remarks that she “would make a good lover.’’
The revocation of his licence and the fine come after the college’s discipline committee concluded that he engaged in sexual abuse of the patient during physiotherapy sessions and visits.
The doctor inappropriately massaged the patient’s back when she once came to seek treatment for her ongoing back pain. As the patient lay on her back in her bra and underwear, Dr Beairsto spent 20 minutes “rubbing her neck, her back, her sides – including the incidental touching of the outside of both breasts – and her lower legs.’’
During one of the physiotherapy sessions, Dr Beairsto also stroked her buttocks as the woman was getting ready to leave the office at the end of the session. He positioned himself in such a way that he had one hand on her buttocks and one hand in front of her, restricting her movement.
He also examined her chest in an inappropriate manner when the patient came for check-up of bronchitis. Dr Beairsto rolled up the front of her shirt above her bra near her collarbone, smiled and made a “woo” sound while looking at her chest and breasts.
The patient also testified that Dr Beairsto told her “a few times” that she “would be a good lover.”
The doctor would also routinely end his psychotherapy sessions with her with hugs and kisses.
In her victim impact statement, the woman patient said she felt “violated’’ by the behaviour of the doctor.
Dr Beairsto has been ordered to reimburse the college $16,016 for funding her therapy and $24,420.00 for the costs.
