Ex-Waterloo doctor’s conduct ‘abhorrent’
Physicians college finds he sexually abused a patient and other misconduct
WATERLOO — A former Waterloo doctor is no longer able to practice after two findings of professional misconduct, including sexual abuse of a patient and numerous boundary violations with female patients.
Dr. William Maclaren Muirhead’s registration was revoked, a mandatory penalty for sexual abuse of a patient.
His conduct was considered “abhorrent and an extreme example of the abuse of the position of trust by a physician in a physician-patient relationship” by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
“The victim impact statement attested to the significant, longterm harm that he caused his patient,” the ruling of the May 2016 decision read.
Muirhead had already allowed his registration to expire before the first discipline hearing held in 2014.
It investigated complaints regarding five patients of Muirhead, who practised psychotherapy in Waterloo. Alleged boundary violations included lending and borrowing money, repeatedly hugging patients during therapy sessions, exchanging gifts, contact outside the office including at homes, declarations of love by Muirhead, and coercing patients to keep secret the nature of his relationship.
Muirhead urged a patient in one email that “extreme confidentiality” was essential to protect their relationship and the patient’s therapy. “If something negative were to happen to me professionally as a result of our relationship this would have a devastating impact on your life. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this confidentiality in protecting our relationship, my profession and protecting the potential for success in your therapy.”
The committee found Muirhead’s behaviour was “egregious, exploitative of many highly vulnerable patients for his own personal gratification, and a violation of fundamental tenets of the profession. His misconduct constituted an extraordinary breach of trust.”
The committee ordered that Muirhead appear for a reprimand and that his registration was immediately suspended for 18 months. Conditions were imposed after that period, including close supervision of his patient care.
Muirhead again faced a hearing in 2016 for allegations of sexual abuse of a student he treated between 2008 and 2011, after she was referred by university student health services for management of anxiety and depression.
The patient’s visits with Muirhead were frequent, taking place multiple times a week, and some appointments lasted more than two hours, according to the summary in the latest issue of the college’s magazine.
Muirhead encouraged the patient to depend on him, and sessions then moved primarily to a back room of the office which had a mattress on the floor and desk against the wall.
Back massaging progressed to cuddling, sexual touching and then sexual intercourse.
He gave her gifts and money, and encouraged her not to cooperate with the college’s investigation into his conduct.
The previous discipline decision was considered an aggravating factor by the committee. Muirhead’s registration was immediately revoked. He was also ordered to pay costs to the college of $10,000 and $16,060 to a patient fund.
Muirhead graduated from Western University in 1982.