Montreal obstetrician-gynecologist loses licence for 2 years over sexual comments
CBC News | Posted: June 5, 2019 10:46 PM | Last Updated: June 5, 2019
Dr. Allan Climan repeatedly told patient she had a 'great little body' during medical exam
A Montreal obstetrician-gynecologist has lost his licence for two years after making comments deemed "abusive" and "sexual" about a patient while she was being examined.
The doctor, Allan Climan, has been practising in Montreal since 1983 and had been warned in the past about his conduct by his professional order.
Climan pleaded guilty in October to making the comments, as well as to accepting more than $18,000 in gifts from another doctor.
In addition to having his licence revoked, he will be fined.
The inappropriate comments were made in April 2015 to a woman, 10 weeks pregnant, who wanted to have a natural birth after complications resulting from a caesarean section in her previous pregnancy.
Climan told the patient that her sex life would never be the same.
"lt won't feel as good for you anymore," he said, turning to her husband.
"You have a great little body," he told the patient. "I can't wait to examine you, and l'm sure you have a beautiful vagina."
Testifying before the Collège des médecins's disciplinary board, the plaintiff said she did not hide her discomfort with the way Climan spoke to her.
He then continued to make comments about her body throughout her examination.
'Talked too much'
The couple left Climan's office furious and made a complaint to the college.
In his defence, the doctor said he knew he "talked too much," and said he was trying to use humour because the patient seemed tense.
He said that being stripped of his licence would be disastrous for his patients, since some only speak Spanish, and he is fluent in the language.
He said he sees about 140 patients each week and delivers 258 to 280 babies per year. He asked to be suspended for just one day.
The college nevertheless determined that Climan's comments were vulgar, obscene and made while the patient was naked and vulnerable.
The disciplinary board said he also risked being deemed a repeat offender, given that he had been previously warned about his conduct.
Climan had been the subject of two previous complaints — in 2003 and 2010 — and another in 2018, after this complaint had been filed.
In all three cases, the doctor was accused of making sexual comments.