Cardiologist who raped junior colleague in 'horrific' assault stripped of licence, hit with $124K in hearing costs

A 23-year saga that began when an Ontario cardiologist violently raped a junior female physician in her home and then inflicted further distress by participating in a review of her hospital privileges has moved another step towards closure with the revocation of the cardiologist’s registration. Dr. Syed Nasir Ali—who had continued to practise in Sarnia, Ont., even after an Ontario Superior Court judge found him guilty of sexual assault in a 2017 civil trial and fined him almost $700,000 in damages and hearing costs—has been stripped of his licence by the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal. The tribunal has also ordered Dr. Ali to pay costs to the college in the amount of $124,400, to cover 12 days of hearing at the daily rate of $10,370. “Dr. Ali committed an egregious act against a colleague,” wrote the tribunal in a May 16 decision on sanctions. “The event was horrific . . . the assault was a huge life-altering event with consequences for her career and her personal life.” Read: Doc hit with $700k civil court fines, costs for sexually assaulting fellow doctor found guilty: tribunal The fact that the assault took place “in the victim’s own home, involving violence, manipulation and a strong element of abuse of power and trust,” underline the need for a “most severe penalty.” “Moreover, Dr. Ali never did accept responsibility or express remorse,” wrote the tribunal. “This is not an aggravating factor but is important in considering his potential for rehabilitation and the principle of specific deterrence.” The tribunal had concluded in a discipline hearing last year—but reserved its decision on sanctions—that Dr. Ali did indeed rape the female doctor, who worked in the same hospital where he was medical director. At the time of the assault, the female doctor was a junior medical colleague who had been Dr. Ali’s friend for most of the previous decade. “She was new to the hospital, having joined the department about six months earlier,” wrote the tribunal. “She trusted him. Dr. Ali abused this trust.” Read: OPINION: Why we at the FMWC support CPSO calling for lifetime ban in Dr. Peirovy case The tribunal also found Dr. Ali had engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct by participating in discussions concerning a dispute the complainant had filed over her hospital privileges. In defending his case with the tribunal, Dr. Ali argued that more than 20 years had passed since the assault and that he has had no prior complaints in his years of independent practice. “However, the seriousness of the misconduct and the effects on the complainant are not diminished by the passage of time,” wrote the tribunal. “Therefore, we gave the passage of time modest weight.” Read: Cardiologist faces four more accusers, additional sexual assault charges

Cardiologist who raped junior colleague in 'horrific' assault stripped of licence, hit with $124K in hearing costs

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