Surgeon banned from Grace OR after nurse’s complaint

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This article was published 29/01/2025 (245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew says he’s concerned about an orthopedic surgeon who was once suspended for inappropriate behaviour with a patient and is now banned from operating at a Winnipeg hospital following an arbitration ruling in October.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Kinew deferred comment to Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, who was in Halifax on Wednesday, but agreed that Dr. David Ames’ patients, especially his female ones, should be made aware of indiscretions involving the doctor.

Ames was banned from performing surgery at Grace Hospital following a probe by an arbitrator last year who looked into a sexual harassment complaint from a co-worker.

The 37-page ruling was not made public by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Arbitrator Freda Steel revoked Ames’ hospital privileges at the Grace after a complaint filed last February alleged four incidents of “unwanted” verbal sexual harassment that “humiliated” a registered nurse at the hospital between 2023 and 2024.

Steel concluded “it was more probable than not that Ames made the comments as alleged.” She found Ames’ testimony inconsistent and not as direct, with his narrative changing over time.

Ames was previously suspended for six months in 2022 by an inquiry panel after sending a photo of a penis to a woman who saw him for double hip replacement surgery.

A sign posted Wednesday at Ames’ Fort Whyte Orthopedics practice noted he must have a female attendant present when he sees female patients.

The nurse, who was only referenced by her initials in the ruling, said she had thoughts of self-harm and worried she would run into Ames in public places.

The nurse’s complaint alleged Ames made several unsolicited sexual remarks, some corroborated by witnesses, including comments about her body and that her husband was a “lucky man.”

A witness testified hearing Ames comment on the complainant’s body and that any man would be lucky to sleep with her.

Ames testified that he never made the comments and was shocked to learn of the complaint after believing he and the complainant had a “collegial relationship.”

Ames was suspended on an interim basis on Feb. 16, 2024, pending the resolution of the complaint.

The doctor’s lawyers would not comment on the ruling and threatened legal action if any publication of confidential workplace matters were made, saying it could constitute a breach of confidentiality and legislation.

The WRHA also declined comment, with a spokesperson deferring comment to Doctors Manitoba and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.

Both of those agencies also declined to comment.

The leaked document showed the nurse came forward to hospital administration on Jan. 4 of last year and at the behest of co-workers.

In the first incident during the summer of 2023, the nurse alleged Ames put his arm around her and complimented her work while disparaging a former manager.

A subsequent incident alleged Ames said the nurse was “every man’s dream.”

A fellow nurse told her to “watch yourself with (Ames)” or to be careful following the second incident. When the complainant searched the doctor’s name on Google, she learned about his disciplinary history.

The final incident came on the morning of Jan. 3, 2024, when Ames allegedly asked her if she was pregnant after overhearing a conversation with a group of nurses.

When she told him she was 20 weeks along, Ames said, “Oh wow, you would never be able to tell. You have a body most women would die for and you are pregnant.”

The nurse told the arbitrator this made her feel like she was being both sexualized and objectified.

She filed the complaint with hospital administration the next day.

Ames told the arbitrator he had received tremendous scrutiny and was “exceptionally conscious” of his conduct around female workers after his suspension in 2022.

Along with the photo, a panel found him guilty of complimenting a patient about her physical appearance during their clinical encounters, inappropriately communicating with the patient over text message and encouraging the patient to send him nude photos of herself.

The panel also found Ames guilty of misleading them in several “specific” ways, including letters and interviews that were “inherently dishonest” in a “calculated effort” to minimize potential penalties imposed.

The scope of Ames’ practice only permits him to conduct advanced procedures, joint replacement and trauma surgery. Only the Grace and Health Sciences Centre have the capacity for the kind of complex operations he performs.

Ames can still apply for privileges at HSC, but he testified it’s unlikely those would be granted.

The ruling states Ames has lost 50 per cent of his income and still has to pay his overhead at the Fort Whyte clinic, along with the salary of a female attendant, one of the conditions stemming from his 2022 discipline.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca