An embattled Windsor doctor has had his licence suspended for five months for professional misconduct.
The decision by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario came down April 30, 2019.
The Discipline Committee was presented with a statement of uncontested facts and a plea of no contest and found that Dr. Bassam Mohamed Khalil Darwish El-Tatari committed an act of professional misconduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
Dr. El-Tatari, a 46-year-old family physician, was accused of inappropriately touching several patients from 2010 to 2015 and making them feel uncomfortable.
"During one appointment, Patient A complained of a pimple on her labia," the decision read. "Without adequate explanation to Patient A, Dr. El-Tatari examined and palpated the pimple on Patient A’s labia. This caused Patient A discomfort and upset."
Another patient felt concerned and upset about the extended length of her breast examinations.
A third patient said she felt uncomfortable when she was hugged by Dr. El-Tatari while wearing an examination gown and was asked if she liked getting hugged while he touched her face with his hand.
Another two patients felt awkward after pelvic exams. They said the doctor commented on the strength of their vaginal muscles and the tightness of their pelvic tone.
Two other patients said they felt uncomfortable after the doctor hugged them and touched their faces. One of them just had a miscarriage.
Other patients felt his comments were unprofessional because he told them they were his "favourite patients". One of them was kissed on the cheek while he hugged her. Another patient's boyfriend was told that he loved her and that she was “like a sister” to him.
The Windsor doctor, who has held a licence to practice medicine since 2010, is also facing two counts of sexual assault that were laid in Windsor on May 18, 2018.