Disgraced doctor granted full parole
An Ottawa doctor who secretly made videos of patients and sexually assaulted them was granted full parole this week.
The doctor, Vincent Nadon, 60, is serving a seven-year sentence for two counts of voyeurism and 12 counts of sexual assault. He is believed to have had more victims, many of whom came forward after his arrest was publicized.
Nadon was granted day parole in January, but in a decision on Tuesday, the Parole Board of Canada granted him full parole and judged that his freedom wouldn't present an unacceptable risk to society.
“Your release will contribute to the protection of society by promoting your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen,” reads the board's decision.
Nadon was judged to be of “moderate” risk of sexual recidivism in his last psychological evaluation, and the board lauded the ostensible progress he had made.
“Your levels of accountability and motivation are high,” the decision reads, “as is your potential for reintegration.
“You are positively engaged in your correctional planning and your personal and emotional life risk factor has been lowered to moderate. Thus, you have made measurable and observable progress that reduces the risk you may present.”
While he was a practising physician, in addition to secretly recording on video the exposed bodies of women during medical examinations at the University of Ottawa Health Services clinics, he also sexually assaulted patients. In some cases, Nadon touched their breasts without consent for sexual purposes and inserted an ungloved hand into patients' vaginas during pap smears.
The parole board's decision acknowledged the victims' pain. “Victim impact statements describe the betrayal, humiliation and violation felt and the impact of your actions on their health,” the decision says. “The judge noted the serious breach of trust against vulnerable women and the violation of their privacy, confidentiality and dignity over a significant period of time.”
It also noted that since his conviction, Nadon lost his medical licence and his wife divorced him.
The parole board imposed one condition on Nadon's release: that he be forbidden from contacting any of the victims unless such contact was necessary for judicial purposes.
Ultimately, it was Nadon's good behaviour and a low risk of recidivism
that led to his obtaining full parole, although an evaluation cited by the parole board suggested that one in five offenders with characteristics similar to Nadon's may reoffend within three years of their release, a rate deemed to be low.
“You recognize that your actions have caused significant consequences for the victims,” its decision reads. “Your remorse appears to be genuine and you feel shame and guilt …. Incarceration will also have had the desired deterrent effect.”