Doctor suspended for sex with patient

Accused to pay investigation costs of $35,000

ACalgary doctor has been suspended from practising medicine for a minimum of 10 months after a hearing tribunal found him guilty of an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

TheCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta said Dr. William Healley flirted with a patient during medical appointments, “including complimenting her and hugging her,” and the two later started a sexual relationship.

While the sexual contact didn’t start until after the patient stopped seeing the physician, a hearing tribunal found that their physician-patient

In a physicianpatient relationship, there is a power imbalance.

KELLY EBY

relationship never formally ended.

“In a physician-patient relationship, there is a power imbalance,” said the college ‘s spokeswoman Kelly Eby.

“So a physician has power over the patient, and one of the very basic rules of being a physician is you don’t have a relationship with your patient beyond the physician-patient relationship. That’s very, very basic.”

The college said that the tribunal also found Healley guilty of “unbecoming conduct” as he treated the patient’s two children while carrying on a sexual relationship with their mother, who acted as the children’s guardian at medical appointments with Healley.

Starting Jan. 1, Healley will be suspended for a minimum of 10 months.

He must also pay investigation costs of $35,363.60 to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Before practising again, he must also meet a series of conditions, including completing a boundaries course.