Hamilton doctor accused of sexual assault barred from seeing patients alone

A Hamilton doctor set to stand trial for sexual assault next fall has now been barred from seeing patients alone after the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) received public complaints" concerning his conduct.

But the nature of the complaints against Dr. Koma Israel - and whether they relate to his yet-tried sexual assault charge - remain unclear.

Israel was ordered last month to not see or treat any patients unless under the continuous" supervision of a regulator-approved practice monitor. He must also post a clearly visible sign in the waiting room and examination rooms of his Upper Ottawa Street clinic, warning clients he can't see them alone.

The strict disciplinary measures, issued July 7, came after the college received two complaints regarding the general practitioner's conduct.

Although the Regulated Health Professions (Act) prohibits us from disclosing additional details at this time, we can confirm that, after receiving two complaints regarding Dr. Israel's conduct, the college launched investigations that are currently underway," CPSO spokesperson Shae Greenfield said in a statement.

The Spectator visited Israel's home Wednesday afternoon after alternative attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. A person who answered his front door said he declined to comment.

It's not the first time the doctor has found himself in hot water with the college.

The 67-year-old was charged with one count of sexual assault in May 2020 - an allegation that will be heard at a Hamilton courthouse next October.

Hamilton police said at the time that the assault was not doctor-patient related, but that Israel and the victim were known to each other.

A family member of the victim refuted that in interviews with The Spectator, however, alleging the assault occurred during a medical consultation in late December 2019. They said the victim had been a patient of Israel's for roughly four years.

The family member, who contacted The Spec in August 2020 and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the alleged assault was physical and occurred inside the doctor's clinic.

The alleged incident left the victim traumatized," the family member said. The victim is no longer a patient of the family doctor and has sought counselling as a result of the alleged assault.

Police would not confirm if the incident related to the charges involved a patient or if it is alleged to have occurred in Israel's office.

Spokesperson Jackie Penman said Wednesday that no additional sexual assault charges have since been laid against Israel. She noted one additional complainant came forward in October 2021, but decided not to proceed with charges.

The charge came nearly one year after Israel was suspended by the college after pleading no contest to an allegation he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct with a patient.

The complaint stemmed from an appointment with a female patient.

According to the college's decision, issued in May 2019, Israel told his patient that a woman needs a man and that may be her problem, was that she did not have a husband or boyfriend."

Israel also asked the patient in an inappropriate and unprofessional manner whether she was attaining sexual satisfaction by masturbating," the decision stated.

The college called Israel's lewd comments toward the patient - who had been seeing him for nearly four years - degrading," insensitive" and disrespectful."

Israel was barred from practice for one month and ordered to pay $6,000 in costs to the college.

Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com