Doctor's actions 'dishonourable'

Sudbury physician Dr. Miguel Bonin has lost his right to practise medicine for three months as of Jan. 16 after a series of interactions with female patients.

His certificate of registration has been suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

According to information on the college's website, Bonin, who has held a medical licence since 1994 and has been under restrictions by the college since April 2010, made comments of a sexual nature to patients, including three who were pregnant.

In one instance, while performing a vaginal exam on a pregnant patient in 2007, Bonin reportedly said “you like it dirty, you like it rough,” and also said to her, “I became this kind of doctor so I could see pretty women in my office.”

Bonin also reportedly asked another pregnant patient during a 2007 exam how often she has sex with her husband and how many times she climaxes. While being educated on breastfeeding, Bonin reportedly told her she was well endowed and has a very nice cup size.

The college's discipline committee found during a Jan. 16 hearing that Bonin “committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he engaged in conduct or an act or omission relevant to the practise of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.”

Besides his certificate of registration being suspended, Bonin, who does not currently have a practice location, must be monitored by another doctor under a variety of circumstances, including during physical examinations of female patients.

If he acts as a surgical assistant, “he must be in the presence of a regulated health professional throughout the entirety of the encounter with the female patient.”
He must also submit to unannounced inspections of his office, practice, and patient charts by a college representative “for the purposes of monitoring and enforcing his compliance with the terms of this order.”

Bonin is to appear before the college to be reprimanded, and must pay the college “costs in the amount of $7,300 within 90 days of this order.”

Posted by Arron Pickard