Professional faces allegations such as breach of patient confidentiality, unethical conduct
The Discipline Committee of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario has immediately revoked the licence of a dentist facing allegations of sexual abuse of a patient, breach of patient confidentiality, and conduct deemed unprofessional and unethical.
According to the agreed statement of facts, the woman who was allegedly sexually abused became the dentist’s patient in 2018 when she received dental treatment for orthodontic and temporomandibular joint issues. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board had referred her to the dentist after she suffered a workplace injury.
Between 2020–022, while this patient was still under his care, the dentist initiated an intimate relationship with her. He engaged in sexual relations with her, including touching of a sexual nature on the patient’s genitals, breasts, and buttocks.
The dentist also sent the patient electronic messages of an intimate and sexual nature. He admitted to travelling with her, discussing the purchase of a home together, and allowing her to care for his vacation property.
At the disciplinary hearing, the dentist admitted to the allegations of professional misconduct. He confirmed that his admissions were voluntary and informed.
Licence revoked
In Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario v Rondeau, 2024 ONRCDSO 2, a panel of the Discipline Committee found him guilty of professional misconduct under the Health Professions Procedural Code, which was a part of Ontario’s Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, based on the evidence and the dentist’s admissions.
The panel ordered the immediate revocation of the dentist’s dental licence. The panel required him to reimburse the College for the funding provided to the patient under s. 85.7 of the Health Professions Procedural Code, to post an irrevocable letter of credit amounting to $17,370 to cover any future payments, and to pay $10,000 in costs to the College.
The Health Professions Procedural Code defined sexual abuse of a patient to include forms of physical sexual relations other than sexual intercourse, the panel noted. This case fell under sexual abuse because the evidence showed that the dentist engaged in touching of a sexual nature, the panel said.
The dentist was also found in breach of patient confidentiality and privacy. In 2021, he sent the patient photographs containing confidential information about other patients. The panel found that these other patients did not consent to the disclosure of their information in the pictures, which included their names, appointment reasons, and laboratory prescriptions.
Lastly, the panel deemed the dentist’s actions disgraceful, dishonourable, unprofessional, and unethical. The dentist violated fundamental professional boundaries by engaging in a prolonged personal relationship with his patient, which undermined the trust placed in him by the public and the dental profession, the panel explained.
