Trial continues for Toronto doctor accused of assaulting patients

The trial continues for a Toronto anaesthesiologist accused of sexually assaulting patients while they were sedated.

Dr. George Doodnaught, 64, has worked at North York General Hospital since 1981.

Police have charged him with with 21 counts of sexual assault, stemming from incidents which allegedly took place between 2006 and 2010.

A total of 21 women between the ages of 25 and 75 have accused Doodnaught of sexual assault while they were sedated during surgery, often only inches away from nurses and other doctors performing surgery at the same time.

In its opening statement on Tuesday, the Crown claimed the assaults happened behind surgical sheets, which divided sterile areas from non-sterile areas.

The Crown also alleged that forced sex acts took place.

The first witness in court on Thursday was a woman who was admitted for a knee replacement and Dr. Doodnaught was her anaesthesiologist.

She told the court that during surgery she felt as if she was being French kissed. She later asked friends if anaesthetic could cause hallucinations, and they told her no.

She said two years later she was listening to 680News and heard the story about Doodnaught’s arrest and then went to police.

The crown says North York general received the first complaint about Dr. Doodnaught back in 2006, but did not open a file on him until he was arrested four years later in 2010.

The Toronto Star has reported the judge-only trial is expected to last approximately two months.

Doodnaught is married and has four children.

North York General has refused to comment on the case, as it’s now in the court’s hands.

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