Former Winnipeg doctor convicted of sexually assaulting 6 patients loses bid to get licence back

A former Winnipeg doctor who lost his licence to practise after sexually assaulting six patients has denied reinstatement, after he argued allowing him to practise again would help ease a shortage of family physicians in Manitoba.

In a decision dated March 14, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said Dr. Amir Houshang Mazhari Ravesh has "not yet realized or accepted" the harm he inflicted on his patients, and there is no certainty he would not reoffend in the future. 

"There are [no] conditions or restrictions which could be placed on Dr. Ravesh's licence which would be sufficient to ensure that the public is protected," the decision said. 

Ravesh was convicted in 2019 for sexually assaulting six women at the You Medical Clinic, an Elmwood area walk-in, between April 2016 and October 2017. 

The patients, who were between the ages of 19 and 36 at the time of the assaults, were sexually touched without their consent by Ravesh during purported medical examinations, according to the college's original decision.

The former doctor was found not guilty on three other counts of sexual assault during his trial. 

Ravesh, who signed an undertaking to cease practice in 2017, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2020. The College of Physicians and Surgeons revoked his licence in early 2021.

According to this month's decision, which follows a February hearing, he has been released on parole.

Ravesh sought to have his certificate reinstated, arguing that under appropriate conditions, including only being allowed to treat patients under the age of 18 and adult men, he posed no risk to the public, the decision said.

Miscarriage of justice allegations 

The former doctor, who represented himself in the February hearing before a college panel, argued there was a miscarriage of justice in the criminal proceedings leading to his convictions, claiming the trial judge made improper findings over his medical actions. 

Ravesh unsuccessfully appealed his conviction with the Manitoba Court of Appeal in 2022.

During his application to have his licence reinstated, Ravesh also argued Manitoba has a shortage of family doctors, which he said he could help alleviate if he was allowed to practise.

The registrar for the college argued that reinstating Ravesh's licence would undermine the public confidence in the institution, the decision said.

The registrar also argued Ravesh not only "violated fundamental principles of medical ethics, trust and human decency" but had not also demonstrated rehabilitation.

Reinstating him would be "wholly inappropriate … given the convictions, and the manner in which Dr. Ravesh abused his position of power as a physician over vulnerable, female patients," the registrar argued.

Denial of convictions 'deeply concerning' 

Among the evidence Ravesh presented in his reinstatement application were excerpts of risk assessments reports issued by a forensic psychiatrist and forensic psychologist that he had already tabled to the parole board, the college's decision said.

A section from one of the reports said Ravesh has an "extremely low risk of reoffending in any manner, especially since the only context he has offended in is now denied to him," according to the decision.

But the reports did not discuss his risk of reoffending if he was allowed to practise again, it said.

The panel also wasn't satisfied the conditions Ravesh suggested for his practice would remove the risk of harm to the public.

"This submission was troubling," the decision said. "The power imbalance present in the doctor-patient relationship would not be removed should Dr. Ravesh be reinstated." 

The decision also noted that in his submission to the panel, Ravesh denied committing the sexual assaults. When asked by the panel whether he took responsibility for his actions leading to his convictions, Ravesh denied having done anything wrong, the decision said.

"It is deeply concerning to this panel that  Dr. Ravesh continues to deny his conduct," the decision said, adding he "showed a lack of empathy for the patients who were harmed by his actions."

The decision said his failure to acknowledge responsibility has prevented Ravesh from taking rehabilitative steps, and left the panel uncertain he wouldn't reoffend if reinstated.

"Overall, Dr. Ravesh did not persuade this panel that he meets the good character requirements necessary to be able to practice medicine safely and ethically."