EX-DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY
Sexual assaults date back to 1980s
Retired Calgary neurologist Dr. Keith Hoyte pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting 28 patients dating back to the 1980s, including a 17-year-old girl.
Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood read in a lengthy statement of agreed facts detailing how Hoyte took advantage of patients referred to him by fondling their breasts during examinations.
Greenwood told Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Jim Eamon the doctor would inexplicably molest his patients who were often referred to him for migraines.
“There is no legitimate clinical explanation for Dr. Hoyte’s examination of the patients,” Greenwood said.
The prosecutor said many of the women were confused as to why Hoyte would examine their breasts for headache-related ailments, but few felt confident in reporting him to the police until media reports emerged of him being charged with sexually assaulting three patients.
The first complaint against Hoyte was made in 1991, but no charges were laid at that time.
A second woman reported the doctor to police in May 2008, but again no action was taken.
When a third woman, who was molested by Hoyte in 2007, went to the police in June 2018, charges involving those three victims were laid, Greenwood said.
“As a result of the media release, 25 more women came forward,” the prosecutor told Eamon.
In most instances, patients were asked to disrobe and given hospital gowns to wear.
Hoyte would then conduct examinations by fondling the women’s breasts.
Many of the victims initially didn’t feel they would be believed if they filed complaints against the neurologist, Greenwood said.
One patient was suffering such debilitating headaches she was willing to put up with the sexual abuse, the prosecutor told court.
“As Dr. Hoyte was touching (her) breasts, he did not explain what he was doing, or why,” Greenwood said.
“(The victim) thought this was unusual, but never having a neurological examination before, she assumed Dr. Hoyte must have been performing sensitivity test. (She) did not say anything and her headaches were so debilitating and she had waited so long that she didn’t want to come forward and risk not getting some answers.”
Another victim was left in tears following her examination by the doctor.
After Hoyte rubbed her nipples, the patient asked him why that was necessary.
“He responded that he needed to ensure that the sensation was the same,” Greenwood said.
Once he was done, the woman “got dressed, went to her car and cried. Confused and embarrassed, (she) did not report the incident at the time.
“It took some time for her to realize that what Dr. Hoyte did was not normal or necessary.”
At defence lawyer Alain Hepner’s request, Eamon ordered a psychological risk assessment.
A date for sentencing submissions will be set later this month.
There is no legitimate clinical explanation for Dr. Hoyte’s examination of the patients.