Northwestern Ontario pharmacist admits at college hearing that he sexually abused patient

Warning: This story may affect those who have experienced sexual assault or know someone affected by it.

A northwestern Ontario pharmacist was suspended from practising for a year and fined $10,000 on Thursday after admitting to sexually abusing a patient.

Ali Yehya's Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) case relates to the alleged sexual abuse of two patients when he was working as a pharmacist and designated pharmacy manager. 

The dates of the allegations, pharmacy name and names of the patients were redacted in the Specified Allegations of Professional Misconduct, which refer to the individuals as "Patient 1" and "Patient 2". 

Yehya's admittance on Thursday relates to Patient 1. 

According to the OCP allegation documents, Yehya is accused of engaging "in an inappropriate romantic and/or sexual relationship that included kissing, touching of a sexual nature, and/or remarks of a romantic and sexual nature." 

Yehya faces a 12-month suspension of his licence. He was also ordered to complete two courses and pay the college $10,000 for costs related to the hearing. Yehya will be prohibited from acting as a designated manager at any pharmacy while the conditions are in effect. 

It was also alleged Yehya "engaged in harassment and/or sexual harassment" toward Patient 2 by "touching and/or attempting to touch her inappropriately," making sexual comments and "making vexatious comments or engaging in conduct that was known or ought reasonably to have been known to be unwelcome."

The OCP withdrew the allegations in relation to Patient 2 because it was unable to contact that person. 

No longer works at pharmacy in question

A publication ban put in place during Thursday's hearing protects the identity of the two patients. It also prohibits CBC from sharing the name and location of the pharmacy where Yehya was practising when the allegations arose. 

In a pre-written statement read aloud during the Thursday hearing, Yehya said he regretted his actions and planned to comply with the college's orders. CBC has reached out to Yehya via his lawyer for comment.

Yehya was previously charged criminally with sexual assault in Machin Township, but was acquitted in a July 2024 trial. It was alleged Yehya committed sexual assault in Machin Township between Nov. 15 and Dec. 25, 2022. The judge said the evidence submitted raised a reasonable doubt on the allegations. 

Yehya used to have his own pharmacy in the Toronto area but the business failed, after which he developed depression and was forced to search for work as a relief pharmacist throughout the province, said his lawyer during the hearing Thursday. 

He was previously investigated by the OCP in 2018 for not following appropriate pharmacy closure procedures and was required to complete a remediation program.

The record on Yehya's OCP profile says the panel observed "Mr. Yehya was locked out of the pharmacy by the landlord during their commercial dispute and that patient records and medications, including narcotic drugs, controlled substances and benzodiazepines, were accessible by members of the public."

After the 2018 OCP disciplinary proceedings impacted his employability, Yehya worked as a labourer when he was unable to find pharmacy work, according to a civil court decision published in September 2024. In order to fund his legal expenses for his first OCP disciplinary hearing, "he was forced to take work [as a pharmacist] in northern Ontario," said the decision. 

Yehya has pursued a civil suit against the landlords. Court documents show he sought $3.5 million in damages for the alleged wrongful termination of his pharmacy's commercial lease. 

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted or is affected by these reports. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

Here are some help resources:

Northwestern Ontario:

• Fay Peterson House, Thunder Bay: Call 807-345-0450 or text 807-700-5011 for 24/7 crisis counsellors, information and referrals for women and girls roughly 16+. Also offers 20 weeks of free counselling for survivors of any kind of sexual violence. 
• Kenora Sexual Assault Centre: Call 1-800-565-6161 for 24/7 crisis line. In-person drop in at the Centre Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre - Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre: Call (807) 684-6751 for health services and consultation for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Phones staffed Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services are also available 24 hours in the emergency department.  
• Dryden Regional Health Centre - Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Program: Call (807) 223-7427 for emergency and follow-up care after sexual assault or intimate partner abuse. Office open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are also available 24 hours in the emergency department.  

Ontario-wide: 

• Beendigen Talk4Healing: Indigenous women can call or text 1-855-554-HEAL for 24/7 crisis support and resources through talk, text and live online chat. Support available in 14 Indigenous languages including Anishinaabemowin, Oji-Cree, Cree and Inuktitut. 
• Support Services for male survivors of sexual abuse: Call 866-887-0015 for 24/7 multilingual support service for male survivors of sexual abuse, both recent and historical.

Canada-wide: 

• Assaulted Women's Helpline: 1-866-863-0511 for 24/7 free, anonymous crisis counselling, info and support available.