Quebec doctor loses licence over bare-handed vaginal exams and other issues

Montreal - The disciplinary council of the Collège des médecins du Québec has taken the license away from Dr. Stephan A. Jacobson who, though now retired for two years, performed abusive acts of a sexual nature on three patients between 2014 and 2015. The first act committed by Dr. Jacobson took place on Sept. 3, 2014 at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. That day, the patient who consulted for a problem of microhematuria received a vaginal examination and a rectal examination when "she had no symptoms justifying them," indicated the judgment. The urologist, who had been practicing for more than 50 years, repeated these exams with the same patient during a consultation on Dec. 16, 2014 and Jan. 27, 2015. On March 4, 2015, with a second patient who consulted for a urinary tract infection at the Medic Elle Clinic in Montreal, Dr. Jacobson performed a vaginal examination with his bare hands and performed inappropriate actions on her, in particular slapping her buttocks at the end of the exam. "Wearing gloves to perform (something) as intrusive as a vaginal examination is an elementary duty for a urologist," underlined the disciplinary council. Finally, on March 16, 2016 the doctor also performed a bare-handed vaginal exam with a third patient who was seeing him for vaginal pressure, incontinence and constipation. During this consultation, Dr. Jacobson also performed a breast exam which was not necessary under the circumstances. "The way in which the respondent went about carrying out this examination of the breasts is aggravating," decided the disciplinary council. "The respondent lifted F (the woman's) jacket, moved her bra up and felt each of her breasts, without having informed her of his intentions (in advance). He acted cavalierly and inappropriately.” One woman felt raped after the exam while another felt abused, humiliated and really bad. The third woman felt in shock after the exam. “The board must conclude that the actions were premeditated, that the respondent acted under the guise of medical acts, that the patients were vulnerable and that the respondent's conduct had consequences on them,” indicated the judgment. His defense In his defense, Dr. Jacobson said he had developed habits and ways of interacting with his male patients over the years. “If these habits were appropriate for men, I realize that I should have thought more about tailoring my approach for female patients,” he said in a written statement. “The behaviour with which I am accused of is the result of a very regrettable misunderstanding and a stark contrast of perceptions, but it does not reflect my intention to abuse these women in any way. At the time of the facts, I was almost 80 years old and I had no interest in these patients and I never did anything to satisfy any sexual desire.” The medical specialist added that he just wanted to examine his patients and treat them diligently. For its part, the disciplinary council noted that Dr. Jacobson does not take responsibility for his abusive actions. A message to doctors By making this sanction exemplary, the council wanted to send a clear message to doctors at the end of their careers. "We must ensure that physicians at the end of their careers understand that there are consequences to violating their code of ethics," said the three members of the board, adding that this is not the first case of a doctor at the end of his career who takes inappropriate actions. The council also wanted to dissuade other doctors from committing the same acts. “Despite a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct, such offenses continue to occur within the profession."

Quebec doctor loses licence over bare-handed vaginal exams and other issues

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