Doctor faces sex-assault charge

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This article was published 24/10/2017 (2911 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s medical licensing authorities have removed a doctor from the province’s list of practising physicians, following a charge of sexual assault laid against him — but they won’t say if they’ve opened an investigation into his conduct.

“Dr. Mazhari Ravesh is currently not practising. As such, his name has been removed from the College of Physician Profiles,” an email from the college’s registrar’s office said Tuesday after police announced the doctor’s arrest.

The college is the only body with the authority to pull a medical licence. It did not address the issue of whether a call it got from police would lead to an investigation on charges of misconduct.

“We are unable to advise you about any college investigation involving Dr. Mazhari Ravesh or any other member,” the email said.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba noted the doctor has no formal discipline history here.

Winnipeg police announced the charge Tuesday at a news conference.

Amir Mazhariravesh, 51 — also known as Amir Ravesh — was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident last week at an Elmwood-area walk-in clinic. He was released on a promise to appear.

A police spokesman said there is concern there may be other victims.

A 19-year-old woman sought medical treatment in hospital after she left the walk-in clinic last Thursday.

The Winnipeg Police Service launched an investigation the following day. The doctor turned himself in and was charged with sexual assault.

“‘Chilling’ would be the right word to describe this,” police spokesman Const. Jay Murray said Tuesday.

“This is a very concerning event for the Winnipeg Police Service and the sex crimes unit… if there are other victims, we would encourage them to come forward and speak to investigators.”

The police spokesman said police also referred the case to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, which licenses doctors in the province.

The college’s email writer confirmed the licensing body knows of the charge and the media release about it.

A website for another doctors’ organization, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, lists the charged man as secretary on that college’s board of directors for 2017-18. He also has served on its board in previous years.

A physician by the same name also is listed as one of the province’s high earners in family practice, with billings of a little more than $580,000 for the 2016 fiscal year, according to provincial records released under the Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act.

Police said the woman had been treated previously by the same doctor without incident. On her return last Thursday to the You! Medical Centre (359 Johnson Ave. W.), she was escorted to a treatment room and left alone.

The lone physician at the clinic entered the room shortly afterward and closed the door behind him.

“The victim was examined in an inappropriate manner and the examination escalated to the point where the victim was seriously sexually assaulted,” police said. “The victim sustained injuries during the examination that were consistent with her account (to police).”

By Tuesday afternoon, the You! clinic website stated the office was closed. Signs on the door confirmed this.

A phone call got an automatic response with the summertime hours for clinic operations but there was no information offered about a sexual assault charge.

A spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said no doctor with that name is listed with privileges to work in Winnipeg hospitals or clinics.

As a matter of protocol, the WRHA has a chaperone guideline for its medical clinics.

In hospitals, there is a practice where male students and residents are accompanied when they see patients.

Any patient can request someone accompany them during a visit with any physician.

The Medical Act that governs the college’s quasi-judicial proceedings requires strict confidentiality to protect a physician’s identity if authorities do roll out such an investigation and hold a formal disciplinary inquiry.

Only if a doctor is found guilty of misconduct can the name be published and sometimes, as part of disciplinary decision, not even then. For instance, if a physician is censured, the college has the authority to keep his name from being published.

A censure is the next step short of pulling a licence to practise and it always involves a severe reprimand and often restrictions on a doctor’s practice.

“As a matter of college policy, when a physician is found guilty after an inquiry, the publication is included except where otherwise ordered by (the inquiry) panel.”

Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact the sex crimes unit (204-986-6245) or Crime Stoppers (204-786-8477).

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca