The  Discipline  Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario last week found that Dr.Wycliffe  Baird, a Kittian-born general practitioner  based in  Mississauga, committed an act of professional misconduct “in that he engaged in sexual abuse of a patient.”

The  Committee also found that he engaged in  conduct or an act or omission relevant to the practice of medicine that  ” would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional. ”

According to a summary of the hearing last week, allegations were made against  Dr. Baird by a patient and a nurse in two separate incidents.

In May 2011, the patient,  identified in the summary as Patient A, attended the  emergency department of a Mississauga hospital with a knee injury, sustained after falling off her motorcycle.

A man,  identified as Mr. X, who was with Patient A at the time of her injury, attended at the Hospital with her. Patient A was provided with a hospital gown and removed her pants, so that her injury could be assessed by Dr. Baird.

When  she asked Dr. Baird when she would be able to stand on the leg, he responded that she could stand on the leg at whatever point she was able to handle the pain.

She then asked Dr. Baird when she would be able to ride her motorcycle. Dr. Baird looked at Mr. X and stated words to the effect of: “he looks like a motorcycle, you could ride him,”  said the summary.

The  patient was said to have been shocked and offended by this comment, which she perceived as sexual harassment and promptly complained to the hospital.

When Dr. Baird was advised of the complaint, he expressed regret for his actions and remorse that the patient had been emotionally injured by the encounter. He agreed to write a letter of apology to the patient, including an assurance that he would change his behaviour.

However,  the letter of apology was not sent to the patient. Instead, the hospital attempted to arrange a meeting between the patient and Dr. Baird.  However, she rejected the invitation to meet with Dr. Baird.

According to the summary of the hearing , the other incident took place  during an evening shift at the hospital on April 29, 2012 when Dr. Baird was the attending Emergency Room doctor.

A nurse, identified as Nurse A, was standing at the nursing station together with her co-workers when Dr. Baird was speaking to a patient and providing indirect instructions to the nursing staff.

When the patient had left, Dr. Baird asked the nursing staff whether the instructions were understood. Nurse A jokingly stated that she did not understand. Dr.  Baird turned around in his chair to face Nurse A, patted his knees and said: “Nurse A come and sit on my lap so that I can spank you.”

This comment was made in front of the nursing staff and two patients. Nurse A and her nursing colleagues then left the area.

Nurse A was upset and offended as a result of Dr. Baird’s comments and at the end of the shift,  informed him that she felt uncomfortable, embarrassed and insulted by his comments.

Dr. Baird apologized and stated that it should be taken as a joke. Nurse A filed a formal complaint against Dr. Baird.

As a result of the complaint, Dr. Baird agreed to provide a formal letter of apology and to seek professional coaching with respect to eliminating inappropriate comments in the workplace, demonstrating professional conduct and developing a sense of empathy in order to understand

how his comments can impact others.

Dr. Baird successfully completed the professional coaching, the summary noted.

At the hearing last Tuesday, the Discipline Committee reserved its decision on penalty.

Dr. Baird started his practice in Ontario in 1972.