Adekunle
Williams Owolabi, a Nigerian medical doctor practising in Canada, has been
suspended for inappropriate behavior.
Owolabi
was found guilty of professional misconduct after four female patients accused
him of making sexual comments and inappropriate kissing and hugging.
While
carrying out a pap test, the physician asked a female patient if her preference
was “big ones or small ones”.
Elizabeth
Mate, the doctor who led the disciplinary tribunal, said his comments were
“cavalier and unprofessional”.
Huffington
Post reports that in a six-day hearing carried out earlier this year, the
doctor who graduated in 2000, denied any wrongdoing.
However,
in each of the four complaints Owolabi was found to have shown a lack of
respect for his patients.
Ruth
Trask, a lawyer representing the college, suggested that Owolabi engaged in a
pattern of behaivour and argued for an eight-month suspension with strong
reprimand.
Owolabi
has 30 days to lodge an appeal with the trial division of the supreme court of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Asides
being suspended for six months, the Nigeria-trained doctor must
undergo training on doctor-patient boundaries and pay 75,000 dollars for
hearing costs.
When
he resumes work, Owolabi must have a chaperone with him while seeing female
patients for two years.
- TheCable
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