Unbelievable and 'nonsensical': Criminal court finds doctor guilty of sexually assaulting five patients

A Manitoba doctor found guilty by a criminal court of sexually assaulting five female patients now faces the permanent cancellation of his licence as well as another trial in February 2024 for 10 more counts of sexual assault involving other patients. Dr. Arcel Bissonette, who practised in St. Anne—located about 40 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg—will also need to face the court again for his sentencing hearing, according to a CBC News story. "I have found that Dr. Bissonnette's testimony was contrived and that portions were fabricated," Court of King's Justice Sadie Bond wrote in her decision, which she issued on November 28. "I find that Dr. Bissonnettee attempted to provide innocent explanations for the Crown's evidence but that his explanations were false." The five patients who had accused Dr. Bissonette of sexual assault testified in court that he had performed—without their consent—vaginal, rectal and breast exams that seemed sexual in nature and made them feel uncomfortable. These assaults happened during medical appointments between 2001 and 2017. Read: Doctor on criminal trial for multiple alleged sexual assaults hit with civil lawsuit Four of the five patients recounted in court how during vaginal exams, Dr. Bissonette moved his fingers in and out repeatedly. Another patient testified that Dr. Bissonnette held on to her hips and had her bend over in front of him while she was completely naked. In his defence, Dr. Bissonette told the court the exams were part of routine physicals and that he performed them based on what he learned in medical training 30 years ago during gynecology and oncology rotations. In her decision, Judge Bond described Dr. Bissonette’s testimony as unbelievable, “nonsensical” and contradictory to the testimony of expert witnesses. She also cited the testimony of two female patients, who said they were regular patients of Dr. Bissonette but, until he had he assaulted them, had never been examined by him in the manner they had described. Read: Appeal denied: 80-year-old doctor convicted of sexual abuse starts serving jail sentence In a statement posted on its website, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said it was taking “immediate steps toward the permanent cancellation of Dr. Bissonnette’s registration based on the convictions now entered by the Court.” All told, Dr. Bissonette was charged with 22 counts of sexual assault and pleaded not guilty to all. The November 28 decision addressed five charges and one charged had been stayed earlier this year. The college barred Dr. Bissonette from practice in November 2020, immediately after the first six charges were announced. Read: Roundup: How do Canada's physician colleges differ on handling sexual misconduct complaints?

Unbelievable and 'nonsensical': Criminal court finds doctor guilty of sexually assaulting five patients

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