NB Doctor Accused of Sexual Assault in NS Also Had Quebec Licence Revoked for Misconduct

Dr. Jean-Claude Doucet, a physician from New Brunswick, is now at the center of a disturbing inter-provincial medical scandal, facing severe sexual assault charges in Nova Scotia. This alarming development follows a previous revocation of his medical licence in Quebec in March 2022, a decision stemming from findings of professional misconduct, specifically sexual misconduct involving a patient.

The Quebec regulatory body, the Collège des médecins du Québec, confirmed that Dr.

Doucet's licence was revoked two years ago due to multiple instances of inappropriate behaviour. These incidents included sexually suggestive comments and inappropriate touching directed at a single patient, which occurred between 2017 and 2019. The patient reported feeling shocked and uncomfortable by Dr.

Doucet's actions, which exploited the power dynamic inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.

More recently, Dr. Doucet, who had been practicing in Edmundston, New Brunswick, was arrested and charged in Nova Scotia. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed these charges, which include two counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault, and one count of administering a noxious thing.

These alleged offenses reportedly took place between May 2023 and January 2024. The serious nature of these charges has sent shockwaves through the medical community and the public.

Following his arrest and the surfacing of these new charges, the New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons moved to suspend Dr.

Doucet's medical licence on February 15, 2024. The college also took the proactive step of issuing a public notice to patients who had been under Dr. Doucet's care in Edmundston, urging them to seek alternative care providers. This suspension marks the latest in a series of disciplinary actions across different provinces.

The Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons has also confirmed their awareness of the charges and are cooperating with law enforcement, emphasizing their commitment to patient safety.

This complex case highlights the critical importance of inter-provincial communication and stringent oversight within the medical profession to ensure that practitioners who engage in misconduct are promptly identified and held accountable, protecting vulnerable patients from harm.