BY KEITH LACEY
A Sudbury doctor facing a court hearing this week on allegations of sexual impropriety against seven female patients faces further sanctions from the province's regulatory body.
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Several more women have come forward with allegations that Dr. Richard Nanka-Bruce, 59, sexually molested them, said Kathryn Clarke, senior communications co-ordinator with the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Â?Dr. Nanka-Bruce has been referred to another hearing in front of the disciplinary committee of the college,Â? said Clarke. Â?No date has been set for his next appearance.Â?
A preliminary hearing started Monday against Nanka-Bruce, who stands accused of indecently assaulting three female patients and sexually assaulting four other female patients between 1973 and 1994.
All seven complainants are expected to testify this week as are members of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons and Greater Sudbury Police investigators.
Defence counsel David Humphrey told the court Monday Nanka-Bruce has opted to have his trial heard before a judge and jury in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
His trial is expected to begin in late fall or early next year.
Justice William Fitzgerald ordered a ban on publication of any evidence at the preliminary hearing.
Last March, the College of Physicians and Surgeons issued strict restrictions against Nanka-Bruce after he admitted to three acts of professional misconduct involving female patients.
The college's website states Â?the discipline committee found that Dr. Nanka-Bruce committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct.
Â?The committee ordered a recorded reprimand and imposed a condition on his certificate of registration that he not conduct any physical examinations of female patients except in the presence of a third party.Â?
Since Nanka-Bruce was charged by Sudbury police, several other women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against this doctor, said Clarke.
It's also alleged Nanka-Bruce broke the conditions of the March, 2003 order and continued to conduct physical examinations of female patients without the presence of a third party approved by the college, said Clarke.
Â?Since the original order, additional conditions have been imposed against Dr. Nanka-Bruce,Â? said Clarke.
The college's disciplinary committee's main role is to ensure public safety, but there are rules and regulations they have to follow and they are not allowed to lift a doctor's license until a full investigation has been completed, said Clarke.
Â?There is the presumption of innocence...and Dr. Nanka-Bruce has not been convicted of anything,Â? she said. Â?That being said, we do have the right to protect the public and impose sanctions and that's what we have done.Â?
If Nanka-Bruce were to be found guilty of criminal charges, the college's disciplinary committee does have the authority to impose further sanctions, ranging from minor to severe discipline, including taking away his licence to practice medicine in Ontario, said Clarke.
Â?We will be monitoring what's going on,Â? she said.
