TORONTO - An anesthesiologist convicted of sexually assaulting 21 sedated women as they underwent surgery was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday.
Dr. George Doodnaught exploited the extraordinarily high degree of trust the patients placed in him and his conduct was "reprehensible in the extreme," Ontario Superior Court Justice David McCombs said, calling the case "unique."
"There are no reported Canadian cases in which an anesthesiologist sexually assaulted sedated patients in an operating room during surgery."
When Doodnaught was convicted in November, McCombs found that the doctor relied on his three decades of operating room experience to avoid detection.
Doodnaught was known as a "touchy feely" doctor, so the judge found his physical proximity during surgery didn't arouse suspicion with other staff.
He sexually assaulted the women while concealed from other medical staff only by a surgical drape.
The assaults — all but one of which happened at North York General Hospital in Toronto — became more frequent until Doodnaught was caught, with the first six spread over 3 1/2 years and 15 others in the last six months before he was stopped.
"The offender's moral blameworthiness is at the high end of the spectrum," McCombs said.
"His conduct did enormous damage and was reprehensible in the extreme."
Many of the victims were in court and it was clearly an emotional day for them. Several wiped tears from their eyes as the judge read his sentencing reasons.
After the sentence was handed down, the victims waited in the courtroom to see Doodnaught led out in handcuffs — he had been on bail during the trial — and one woman clapped.
Doodnaught's lawyer said he will appeal the convictions.