Patients speak out after thousands exposed to infection risk at Toronto gynecologist

Public health officials are warning some 2,500 people they may have been exposed to blood-borne infections at a Toronto gynecology office where medical tools were not properly cleaned.

Toronto Public Health said in a letter to patients that during a four-year span beginning in October 2020, tools at Dr. Esther Park's clinic in the High Park neighbourhood weren't cleaned properly, resulting in a "very small chance" that bacteria and viruses could have been passed from one patient to another. 

Zahra Bakhsh was one of the patients who received the letter with the news that she could have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

"I was enraged, I think I spent most of the day in shock and I felt quite ill by the end of the day," Bakhsh told CBC Toronto.

"I felt numb. I still do right now," she said.

In a follow-up statement, the public health agency said it believes the risk of transmission is low but it's sharing the information as a precaution. The patients who may have been exposed had procedures, including endocervical polyp excision, endometrial biopsy or even the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD).

"We recommend that affected individuals consult with their health care provider for appropriate testing and contact us with any questions or concerns," it said. 

Amal Alsheikh, another patient at the clinic, said she was so distraught when she received the letter that she didn't go to work that day.

"I was panicking, I didn't know what to do, I couldn't sleep," she said.

Alsheikh went to her family doctor the next morning. Her blood tests came back negative, but Alsheikh said she was terrified while she awaited the results.

"I didn't want to tell my family, because I didn't want people to worry about me."

Now, Alsheikh wants to see the gynecologist's licence revoked. 

Doctor, clinic offer no response

A clinic staff member told CBC Toronto neither the clinic nor Park would provide comment on this story.

The office's answering machine says Park is retiring and no longer accepting new patients, and that the clinic will be closing in April.

Dozens of Park's patients have shared negative reviews of the doctor online.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) said it's investigating Park in relation to infection control issues in her practice. Further details on the college's physician register show Park's licence has been restricted since December 2024.

"Dr. Park has agreed to restrict her practice to office-based gynecology," the CPSO'S website says.

"Dr. Park will engage in professional education in the differential diagnosis and management of endometrial thickening in the asymptomatic post-menopausal patient, and medical record-keeping."

Park previously worked with Unity Health, however a hospital spokesperson confirmed she has not been involved in any clinical work at St. Joseph's Health Centre since July 2024 and resigned from the hospital in December 2024.

Patients still want answers

Bakhsh's test results came back negative, but she still wants answers — especially now that she knows there are thousands of others like her.  

"I have so many questions. I hope someone does have access to her and can ask her how over the span of four years this could happen."

"I want to see justice, I just don't know what that looks like," she said.