Doctor who faced criminal charges for sexual assault in two provinces slammed for preying on autistic patient

An Alberta doctor who faced criminal charges for sexual assault in two provinces has been found guilty by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta in a case involving an autistic patient who reported inappropriate touching that included oral sex. Dr. Ian Gebhardt, a family physician in Medicine Hat, “exploited his role as a trusted health professional and abused a vulnerable disabled adult who was sexually suggestible,” the hearing tribunal wrote in its decision document. “This is an aggravating factor. This behaviour is intolerable to the profession and the public and is extremely serious.” The tribunal will decide on penalty at a later date, which is yet to be scheduled. According to the decision document, in June 2017 the patient went to Dr. Gebhardt’s clinic, accompanied by two care workers. Dr. Gebhardt had seen the patient about 24 times over the last few years. The patient always came with at least one care worker, who typically stayed in the exam room for the entire appointment unless the patient expressed a desire to speak privately with Dr. Gebhardt. On this particular appointment, the care workers stepped out after Dr. Gebhardt handed the patient a gown. One of the care workers testified during the college hearing that on the drive home right after the appointment, the patient told her: “Dr. Gebhardt put his mouth on my penis.” Read: Former medical health officer sentenced to 5 1/2 years for child sex assault The patient repeated this statement and also added that he had put his mouth on Dr. Gebhardt’s penis. Later that evening, the patient repeated these statements to his mother over the phone. After this call, he phoned one of his grandmothers and told her the same thing. Both the care worker and the patient’s family waited several days before filing a report with police. The care worker testified that she did notify her supervisor immediately and the incident was reported to the next level of management. The patient’s mother explained that she had asked her son not to share the information with anyone outside their immediate support circle—which included his care workers—because a doctor was involved and “you’re supposed to trust and respect them.” Dr. Gebhardt was subsequently hit with a criminal charge for sexual assault, but the trial was stayed in 2018. In 2021, he was charged in Ontario for sexual assault and sexual interference involving two people under the age of 14, for alleged incidents dating back to the 1980s, before he became a doctor. Read: Gynecologist who sexually abused dozens of patients is sentenced to 20 years in prison

Doctor who faced criminal charges for sexual assault in two provinces slammed for preying on autistic patient

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