Close X
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
ADVT 
National

Neurologist's sex assault victims to speak out

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2020 05:20 PM
  • Neurologist's sex assault victims to speak out

Several women are expected to speak in court today about a retired Calgary neurologist who sexually assaulted them.

Keith Hoyte pleaded guilty in January to assaulting 28 female patients over three decades.

Crown prosecutor Rosalind Greenwood says about 20 victims are expected to attend Hoyte's sentencing hearing.

She says many are expected to read their victim impact statements in court, and she will read statements from some others.

An agreed statement of facts described how the victims, between the ages of 17 and 46, felt confused, embarrassed, numb and angry during appointments with Hoyte.

Women recounted being told to undress from the waist up, even though they were seeking treatment for brain ailments such as migraines and seizures.

They described how Hoyte fondled their breasts and pricked them with pins, while he made little eye contact or conversation.

In some cases, they said, the doctor pushed down gowns without his patients' consent.

Court heard that most of the time Hoyte did not explain what he was doing or why. In some cases, he said it was to test reflexes or sensation.

The agreed statement of facts said a common thread was that the doctor was seeking sexual gratification from his patients.

Court heard one victim went to police in 1991, another in 2008 and a third in 2018. Police charged Hoyte with three counts of sexual assault in June 2018. After media reports, 25 more women came forward.

Complainants said in the agreed statement of facts that they did not report Hoyte sooner because they thought they wouldn't be believed or would be thought of as difficult patients.

MORE National ARTICLES

Aid for care homes needed ahead of next wave

Aid for care homes needed ahead of next wave
With an uptick in new cases of COVID-19 in Canada sparking concerns about a second wave of the illness, advocates for seniors in long-term care say more federal support must start flowing immediately to ensure elders do not again become the primary casualties.

Aid for care homes needed ahead of next wave

Calgary man facing terrorism-related charges

Calgary man facing terrorism-related charges
RCMP have laid terrorism-related charges against a Calgary man following what they say was an extensive and complex seven-year investigation.

Calgary man facing terrorism-related charges

Service puppies put through their paces on transit

Service puppies put through their paces on transit
It appears that even service puppies can't escape the changes of the pandemic. Bill Thornton, the CEO of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, says the new recruits are far behind on their transit training schedule because of COVID-19.

Service puppies put through their paces on transit

Legal action launched against B.C.'s wolf cull

Legal action launched against B.C.'s wolf cull
A British Columbia environmental group has launched a legal petition alleging the provincial government's wolf kill to save caribou is breaking federal and provincial laws.

Legal action launched against B.C.'s wolf cull

Court strikes down Canada-U.S. refugee pact

Court strikes down Canada-U.S. refugee pact
A federal judge has struck down a key agreement on refugees between Canada and the United States, but gave Ottawa six months of breathing room to respond to the landmark decision.

Court strikes down Canada-U.S. refugee pact

Students call on feds to scrap grant program

Students call on feds to scrap grant program
Two groups representing thousands of post-secondary students are calling on the Trudeau Liberals to abandon its troubled volunteer program and push its $900-million funding to other student supports.

Students call on feds to scrap grant program