Doctor loses licence, ordered to pay $40K

TORONTO • A Toronto doctor has been stripped of his licence and ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars after Ontario’s medical watchdog found he made sexual remarks and inappropriately touched a female patient during psychotherapy sessions over several years.

The discipline committee for the College of Physicians and Surgeons ruled in August, 2016, that William (Art) Beairsto behaved inappropriately toward the patient, who alleged he had stroked her buttocks while restricting her movement, rolled up her shirt and looked at her breasts when she had bronchitis, and kissed her on both cheeks after each visit.

In a penalty decision released in October, the committee ordered t hat Beairsto’s licence to practise medicine be revoked, that he reimburse the college $ 16,060 in funding for therapy and counselling for the patient, and that he pay the college $24,420.

“The committee is persuaded that revocation of Dr. Beairsto’s certificate of registration is required to address public safety,” the decision reads.

Beairsto’s lawyer had requested that he only be barred from practising for three additional months — he hasn’t practised since November, 2016 — that he continue an educational program on boundaries and that he be supervised by another doctor for 12 months.

According to the penalty decision, dozens of patients sent letters in Beairsto’s support, and 16 testified on his behalf in person.

The committee also heard from two expert witnesses who testified they had spent time with Beairsto since the discipline committee released its decision, and they found that his understanding of boundary issues had improved.

But the decision also said it gave “little weight” to the character evidence provided by other patients, “given that these patients lacked knowledge of the incidents being considered.”