Psychiatrist stripped of his licence

It’s three strikes and you’re out for a St. Catharines psychiatrist with a history of exploiting patients.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has stripped Dr. Paul Michael Porter, 67, of his licence to practise after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of sexually abusing an “extremely vulnerable” patient by “hugging her, kissing her, holding her hand, having her sit on his lap, and making remarks of a sexual nature.”

“Patient A,” whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was under Porter’s care for anxiety, panic attacks and an eating disorder. She has said Porter became increasing flirtatious between 2009 and 2012.

Now he is out the door and will be forced to pay tens of thousands in costs to both the college and the victim.

“(Porter) was fully aware of appropriate boundaries, which he repeatedly both crossed and violated,” the college states in its reasons for the penalty.

“Dr. Porter was instigative in activating and promoting this sexualized behaviour.”

Porter had been on the college’s radar for a while.

Back in 2002, two female patients accused him of sexually abusing them. A disciplinary committee found him guilty of professional misconduct for a “serious lack of judgment” in his treatment of the women. However, two of the fivemember committee stated they would have found Porter guilty of sexual abuse.

The college hit Porter with a 30-month suspension, barred him from practising privately for five years, and restricted him to practising under supervision. He appealed and instead was ordered to not treat patients with certain conditions for five years. He was also made to record his future sessions on video.

Then, in 2012, Porter was found guilty of borrowing “significant sums of money” from two other patients. For that, he faced a month-long suspension.

The college on Wednesday called Porter’s three disciplinary appearances “the most obvious aggravating factor” in its decision to revoke his licence.