A physician in Richmond Hill has been charged in a historic case of sexual assault involving a patient.
According to York Regional Police, the victim visited the doctor’s Yonge Street office nearly ten years ago during the summer of 2016.
“During a medical exam the suspect touched the victim for a sexual purpose and conducted no other examinations,” police stated in a news release issued Thursday.
The incident was reported to police in April 2024, prompting an investigation.
Authorities have now charged 79-year-old Brian Sheffield from Richmond Hill with one count of sexual assault and believe there could be additional victims.
“There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence,” officials noted.
Sheffield earned his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1971 and has practiced as a family doctor in Richmond Hill for over 50 years.
He faced disciplinary action from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario after an investigation revealed that he engaged in serious misconduct and did not uphold professional standards.
A medical inspector indicated that Sheffield “displayed a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment or disregard for the welfare of his patients” and “prescribed extremely excessive amounts of opioid medications” to over 20 patients who “developed a serious drug dependency.”
The College imposed a penalty of $3,650.00 on him and restricted his prescribing abilities regarding certain drugs.
“Dr. Sheffield shall cooperate with unannounced inspections of his practice and patient charts,” ruled the College.
If anyone has information related to this case, they are urged to contact the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit.
Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to show that Sheffield’s age is 79, not 71 as initially reported by police.
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