Dr. WalidAl-Houssan facing sexual assault charges allowed to practise

Afamily doctor charged with sexual assault is still permitted to practisein Nepean, sparking questions about whether Ontario's medicalregulatory body isdoing enough when it comes to serious allegations against physicians.

WalidAl-Houssanwas charged with sexual assault last springand is the subject ofan ongoing investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO),which regulates the medicalprofessionin the province.

His licence has not been suspended.

After suffering a head injury, Carolyn Simon visited the Sunrise Medical Centre on Merivale Road in early February this year to make sure she wasn't seriously concussed.

Simon noticedsigns posted around the clinic sayingAl-Houssanwasn't allowed to be alone with patients, and turned to the internet to find out why.

She discoveredAl-Houssanis currently facingthree counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability, and one count of sexual interference involving a girl under the age of 16.

The charges were laid in May2017, according to court records.A trialis scheduled to begin May 27, 2019.

"I felt really nervous and uncomfortable and kindof shocked that he was still practising," Simonsaid. "It was a lot of fear and vulnerability."

Because her condition was potentially serious, Simon said she felt likeshe had a decision to make seeing adoctor, orfeeling safe.

Restrictions in place

Despite the charges,Al-Houssanis playing by the rules by continuing to practise.

While the CPSOinvestigation is underway, Al-Houssanis practising underseveral restrictions imposed by a disciplinary committee.

First, he's only allowed to seepatients in the presence of a "practice monitor," described by the college as a regulated health professionalsuch as a registered nurse.

As Simon discovered,Al-Houssanmust also post signs in his clinic notifying patients of the restrictions. In addition to the written notices, he must make sure patients are "directly notified" of the details of the restrictions before any medical examination takes place.

Notifying patients

According to CPSO spokesperson Tracey Sobers, there are a "number of ways that a physician can fulfil the the requirement to directly notify patients," includingbut not limited totelling them over the phone when they call to make an appointment, or by sending letters.

Simon said that in addition to the posters in Al-Houssan's office,the doctor explained in the examination room that a nurse was present due to "temporary restrictions." He did not go into any more detail about those restrictions, Simonsaid.

When contacted by CBC News, Al-Houssandeferred questions to his lawyer. The lawyer, Dominic Lamb, did not respond to CBC's questions in time for publication.

Soberssaid in an emailed statement that Al-Houssan'smedical licence has not been revoked or suspended "in the face of unproven criminal allegations."

Instead, Soberssaid restrictions were placedon his licence "in order to protect the public while he is under investigation."

While the CPSOdoes have the authority to temporarily suspend a physician's licence under the Health Professions Procedural Code, the organization tends to impose "the least restrictive order that can ensure public protection," Sobers said.

'It's important to feel safe'

Susan Hagar is a registered nurse and the owner of Nurse on Board, a patient advocacy organization. She said the relationship patients have with their doctors centres on trust.

"When you've lost the trust in therelationship, you've lost everything," she said.

Given the allegations, Hagar said some patients may preferto find another physician, a process that can be time-consuming and tedious.But when it comes right down to it, patients have to make a move if they're not feeling secure.

"It's important to feel safe and it's worth the effort," she said.

When it comes to allegations of sexual assault, Simon believes therestrictions imposed by the CPSOdon't go far enough to makepatients feel at ease.

"I kept thinking about all the other women, especially the survivors of sexual assault who have that similar moment, where they have to give up their own feeling of safety just so they can see a doctor," she said."It's very unfair."