Arrested Mississauga psychologist once disciplined by College

Dr. Vincent Lo is facing three charges of sexual assault allegedly involving former patients. His arrest comes more than two years after he was discipline by the College of Psychologists of Ontario. 

 

RICHARD J. BRENNAN / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO 

 

Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins has said Ontario’s legislation will not be reviewed despite criticism from lawyers, ethicists and NDP health critic France Gelinas.

By: Laura Armstrong Staff Reporter, Published on Thu Oct 09 2014

 

A Mississauga psychologist disciplined more than two years ago for professional misconduct by the industry’s provincial regulatory board after he admitted to sexually abusing a patient is facing criminal charges.

Dr. Vincent Lo went uninvestigated by legal authorities for almost two years after the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) ruling in June 2012.

In Ontario, the decision to notify authorities that one of their members may have committed a crime is at the discretion of medical regulatory bodies. A recent Star investigation found medical regulators in Alberta and some American states must by law report a doctor suspected of committing a criminal offence to authorities.

Peel police say Lo was investigated because a victim, not the college, came forward.

In another recent case, a Mississauga family physician , Dr. Sastri Maharajh, was disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) for professional misconduct after admitting to either resting his cheek on or placing his mouth on the breasts of up to 13 female patients. He was suspended for eight months but is now able to practice on male patients only.

Peel police said they would launch an investigation if the CPSO lodged a complaint. The college is keeping secret if it had reached out to police but Maharajh was not being investigated as of Wednesday.

Lo was arrested by investigators with Peel police’s Special Victims Unit last Wednesday, according to a release. The former psychologist is charged with three counts of sexual assault dating back to 2001. The alleged victims were patients of Lo when he practiced out of Credit Valley Hospital and a private practice, both in Mississauga.

The Star could not reach Lo for comment.

Investigators said they are concerned there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, and ask any potential victims to contact police.

According to a report on Lo’s discipline proceeding, he admitted to the CPO that in 2002, while working out of a private practice, he massaged the shoulders of an unidentified male patient — known in the report as “Mr. M” — and touched the patient’s bare chest and nipple area with his hand. Lo also placed the patient’s bare leg on his own and began to massage his leg, moving upwards toward the groin, it states.

Lo stopped when his finger touched the patient’s groin area and he “reacted with discomfort,” the report said.

“Dr. Lo knew or ought to have known that this conduct might reasonably be expected to cause harm, discomfort or humiliation to Mr. M,” the report said.

Lo resigned from membership in the CPO in June 2012 and agreed to never reapply for or resume practice as a registered psychologist anywhere in the world at any time.

Catherine Yarrow, registrar and executive director for the CPO, said Wednesday Peel police inquired about Lo this spring. After receiving the patient’s consent, the college provided police with requested information, she said. The Star could not independently confirm the CPO’s involvement with the investigation.

The cases of Lo and Maharajh raise questions about whether the province’s decades-old Regulated Health Professions Act, which governs both regulatory bodies, should compel colleges to contact police if they know about potential criminal behaviour.

Under the act, every person employed, retained or appointed by the College must keep information confidential except when dealing with a police officer to aid an investigation or what could lead to an investigation, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the disclosure is necessary for the purpose of eliminating or reducing a serious risk of bodily harm.

Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins has said Ontario’s legislation will not be reviewed despite criticism from lawyers, ethicists and NDP health critic France Gélinas.

Colleges should “absolutely” be mandated to contact the police in instances of sexual abuse, Gélinas said.

Alberta’s Health Professions Act compels the province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons to inform the justice minister and solicitor general if there are reasonable grounds to believe the doctor has committed a criminal offence. The justice minister then decides if the case should be turned over to police.

The same investigation found medical regulators in Texas, Iowa and Nevada are each governed by a state law ordering board members, employees and agents to report to police any information found while investigating a physician that suggests a crime may have been committed.

Lo will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton Nov. 3.


Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/10/09/arrested_mississauga_psychologist_once_disciplined_by_college.html