Jump to content
Premed 101 Forums

U of T medical student convicted of rape


Recommended Posts

Alcohol could have impaired his judgement as well. Just saying. 

But yeah, sometimes the most horrible people are good at charming, socializing and getting into prestigious professions. Know a couple people in my life who are horrible but have talked their way into good positions.

Also, wasn't there some medical student from Dalhousie (i think? I think it was in Eastern Canada) who murdered someone? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, takasugi said:

Alcohol could have impaired his judgement as well. Just saying. 

But yeah, sometimes the most horrible people are good at charming, socializing and getting into prestigious professions. Know a couple people in my life who are horrible but have talked their way into good positions.

Also, wasn't there some medical student from Dalhousie (i think? I think it was in Eastern Canada) who murdered someone? 

Dal had a good run of people doing crazy criminal stuff for a bit. 

 

If I recall correctly there was a guy who was admitted but in the summer prior to starting was charged in a drug related murder. They also had a med student who was found to be planning a mass shooting of his classmates and was stockpiling guns and ammo I believe. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/17/2019 at 12:06 AM, sympatheticsystem said:

I was in the position where I could have sued but chose not to - but I honestly might if I feel like the court process is worth it, 

And I don’t mind- if the family doctor I had who almost killed me is on this site she’ll know exactly who I am and she knows I have a potentially dangerous lawsuit against her, but I doubt she is.... oh well lol

On 1/17/2019 at 12:50 AM, deeman101 said:

But just try suing your doctor. You'll see how rigged that system is and how strong the CMPA is. There's a reason why physician lawsuits have an astoundingly low conviction rate in Canada. And that's mostly if someone actually dies.

Was going to pretty much say the same thing as deeman. CMPA is incredibly strong. This isn't the US where wins and large payouts are rampant against doctors.

I won't comment on the whole family med discussion because it doesn't seem to be worth anyone's time given that sympatheticsystem is not in the medical education system currently and therefore their entire perception of the field is incredibly skewed. If you do end up in medicine, I think it'll be very self-explanatory and you won't need a bunch of people you don't know on a forum telling you the importance and hard work that family docs do, and how they care about their patients as much, and in many cases, more than specialists and surgeons.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/16/2019 at 10:26 PM, sympatheticsystem said:

Why are you getting so upset, like I am genuinely confused. And yeah I figured as much, + the court process was a really long time and I had an inkling that her status would give her some kind of advantage over me, even though I was really pushed to do it. And I mean you can’t really say that someone you personally works harder than someone you don’t but alright, like I said I’m sure she works very hard. But hey man there are also people who work 3 jobs to make a living... they dont work hard? If we’re talking ignorance that’s a pretty ignorant comment in my personal opinion. But I’m getting confused with stories now, before you said she hates it and blames you for not warning her about it but now she’s less salty than you and does everything for her patients. Oh well, but eh, teach their own; enjoy your dinner man! 

 

And thanks! 

Sorry if I struck a nerve or something because apparently I did 

if this is the attitude you are going to have in med school and residency, you are going to have a really bad time

 

assuming you make it to med school in the first place

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 1/13/2019 at 2:21 PM, hamham said:

Personally, I never believe in intoxication defense in cases of rape. While substances may diminish your senses and perception of the world around you, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to sexually assault another even under substance influence. In this case, the perpetrator should never be allowed to practice medicine again.

Absolutely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
On 1/13/2019 at 12:21 PM, hamham said:

Personally, I never believe in intoxication defense in cases of rape. While substances may diminish your senses and perception of the world around you, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to sexually assault another even under substance influence. In this case, the perpetrator should never be allowed to practice medicine again.

You're giving rape apologist. With this ridiculous thought process.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
1 hour ago, Hokage777 said:

I can't believe people like this exist.

Anyone know what happened in this case? I hope he's not practicing right now. 

Other than the fact that I think he is still in jail there is no way in hell any licensing body would grant him permission to practise......and rightly so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Hokage777 said:

I can't believe people like this exist.

Anyone know what happened in this case? I hope he's not practicing right now. 

Sexual misconduct is an extremely serious issue and occurs even among practising physicians.

A quick look at the disciplinary actions of the CPSO over the past 9 months shows 2 separate cases of sexual abuse of patients: Drs R Birnbaum and J. Taliano.

https://www.cpso.on.ca/News/Discipline-Decisions

The cases are quite a bit different than the one posted, but sadly shows that sexual misconduct occurs even with fully-licensed physicians.  I am sure that there are more cases that go unreported or do not result in disciplinary action.  

A more recent accusation:

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/two-women-sexually-assaulted-by-doctor-at-toronto-medical-clinic-police-say-1.5343335

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/21/2019 at 6:46 PM, takasugi said:

Alcohol could have impaired his judgement as well. Just saying. 

i regularly get drunk and never have thoughts of raping or otherwise sexually assaulting anybody?? alcohol or intoxication in general does not magically turn decent people into rapists.

if alcohol is "impairing" your judgment to the point where you want to rape someone, please don't drink. ever.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/11/2021 at 6:16 PM, whatdoido said:

i regularly get drunk and never have thoughts of raping or otherwise sexually assaulting anybody?? alcohol or intoxication in general does not magically turn decent people into rapists.

if alcohol is "impairing" your judgment to the point where you want to rape someone, please don't drink. ever.

Actually, alcohol seems to be identified as a factor in over 50% of sexual assaults, especially on college campuses.  

"Research suggests that alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or the victim increases the likelihood of acquaintance sexual assault occurring through multiple pathways. Alcohol’s psychological, cognitive and motor effects contribute to sexual assault."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4484270/

Alcohol has a "troubled" history in the US led to prohibition partly because people believed alcohol was a "major cause of most personal and social problems".  Obviously, banning it didn't work (actually helped organized crime), but the point is that alcohol has been long thought to have a harmful role in society.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States

Apparently, alcohol is also the most important  date rape drug:

"detailed examination of the testing results does not support the contention that any single drug, apart from alcohol, can be particularly identified as a ‘date rape’ drug”.

http://www.jflmjournal.org/article/S1353-1131(01)90513-9/abstract

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/sep/22/alcohol-date-rape-drug-facilitated-sexual-assault-dfsa 

"Alcohol is such an integral part of our culture we frequently underestimate its potency. Among its toxic effects are memory impairment, which typically begins after just one or two drinks. Alcohol-induced blackouts are common among young, social drinkers. A study in 1999 found that 35% of trainees in a large paediatric residency programme in the US had experienced an alcohol-induced blackout. Another study in 1995 found a third of first–year medical students had experienced alcohol-induced amnesia." 

something to think about it..

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, indefatigable said:

Alcohol has a "troubled" history in the US led to prohibition partly because people believed alcohol was a "major cause of most personal and social problems".

In Canada too. We actually beat the Americans to prohibition in every province except for NS (in 1921 a year after the US in 1920). PEI's ban lasted from 1901-1948.

It boggles my mind that they amended the US constitution for prohibition. Such a tough thing to do procedurally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, zoxy said:

In Canada too. We actually beat the Americans to prohibition in every province except for NS (in 1921 a year after the US in 1920). PEI's ban lasted from 1901-1948.

It boggles my mind that they amended the US constitution for prohibition. Such a tough thing to do procedurally.

Both points are very interesting. Quebec never participated in total Prohibition..  although -it did benefit indirectly in many ways - err Seagram and Bronfmans.  

https://www.lapresse.ca/maison/architecture/maisons/200806/09/01-872219-la-renovation-verte-dune-residence-doree.php (nice house- purchased 1928 ... and still in the family)

They then had to pass another amendment (21st) repealing the previous amendment (18th).. oops! .. interestingly, the 21st amendment apparently is the only one to pass through a "state ratifying procedure" rather than using the house.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, indefatigable said:

Seagram and Bronfmans. 

From Maclean's (great read I might add):

' The first time the Bronfman name was uttered in Parliament was June 22, 1922, when senators were debating the Canada Temperance Bill, which would have banned the export of liquor to the United States.Conservative Nova Scotia Senator Nathaniel Curry stood in the Senate to read a telegram from Abe Bronfman, asking that any such measure be delayed for nine months to give his family time to liquidate its “very large stocks” of alcohol.

“Who is he?” asked Conservative Alberta Senator James Lougheed.

“Abe,” said Curry.

“Champion bootlegger of Saskatchewan,” said Conservative Sen. George Fowler of New Brunswick.'

https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-ties-that-bind-the-liberals-and-the-bronfmans/

James Lougheed was Peter Lougheed of Alberta's granfather btw. Also love the word choice about "liquidating stocks of alcohol" .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 1/14/2019 at 10:33 AM, Lactic Folly said:

Even in medical school, our social committee was reluctant to organize alcohol-free events, stating that they might not be popular.

Good for you for trying to discourage.

While the peer review process isn't finished, it looks there is no safe level for alcohol on the brain (obtained through imaging research).  

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/951694

This is an addition to its known links with sexual assault.

https://forums.premed101.com/topic/102721-u-of-t-medical-student-convicted-of-rape/?do=findComment&comment=1239057

The End of Happy Hour? No Safe Level of Alcohol for the Brain

There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption for the brain; even moderate drinking adversely affects brain structure and function, according a British study of more 25,000 adults.

"This is one of the largest studies of alcohol and brain health to date," Anya Topiwala, DPhil, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.
"There have been previous claims the relationship between alcohol and brain health are J-shaped (ie, small amounts are protective), but we formally tested this and did not find it to be the case. In fact, we found that any level of alcohol was associated with poorer brain health compared to no alcohol," Topiwala added.
The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, was published online May 12.

Global Impact on the Brain

Using the UK Biobank, the researchers evaluated brain health on the basis of structural and functional brain MRI measures in 25,378 adults. Participants provided detailed information on their alcohol intake. The cohort included 691 never-drinkers, 617 former drinkers, and 24,069 current drinkers.
Median alcohol intake was 13.5 units (102 g) weekly. Almost half of the sample (48.2%) were drinking above current UK low-risk guidelines (14 units, 112 g weekly), but few were heavy drinkers (>50 units, 400 g weekly).


After adjusting for all known potential confounders and multiple comparisons, a higher volume of alcohol consumed per week was associated with lower gray matter in "almost all areas of the brain," Topiwala told Medscape Medical News.


Alcohol consumption accounted for up to 0.8% of gray matter volume variance. "The size of the effect is small, albeit greater than any other modifiable risk factor. These brain changes have been previously linked to aging, poorer performance on memory changes, and dementia," Topiwala said.

...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
On 5/25/2021 at 1:35 PM, indefatigable said:

After adjusting for all known potential confounders and multiple comparisons, a higher volume of alcohol consumed per week was associated with lower gray matter in "almost all areas of the brain," Topiwala told Medscape Medical News.


Alcohol consumption accounted for up to 0.8% of gray matter volume variance. "The size of the effect is small, albeit greater than any other modifiable risk factor. These brain changes have been previously linked to aging, poorer performance on memory changes, and dementia," Topiwala said.

...

Not to distract from the grievously serious topic of sexual assault, but decreasing gray matter is not yet a validated assessment of "negative" effects on the brain. In fact, even caffeine has been shown to transiently reduce gray matter mass (https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article-abstract/31/6/3096/6135013?redirectedFrom=fulltext).

But yea, I don't agree that alcohol should play a role in excusing or alleviating guilt in someone who committed sexual assault either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/11/2021 at 1:51 PM, DrOtter said:

Not to distract from the grievously serious topic of sexual assault, but decreasing gray matter is not yet a validated assessment of "negative" effects on the brain. In fact, even caffeine has been shown to transiently reduce gray matter mass (https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article-abstract/31/6/3096/6135013?redirectedFrom=fulltext).

But yea, I don't agree that alcohol should play a role in excusing or alleviating guilt in someone who committed sexual assault either.

A causal link is much harder to establish, but the findings are pointing in a way suggestive of progressive, long-term dose-dependent damage.

Nonetheless, alcohol appears to be a factor in over 50% of sexual assaults, especially on college campuses - so discouraging bing drinking especially can help reduce incidence of such horrific events.  

"Research suggests that alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or the victim increases the likelihood of acquaintance sexual assault occurring through multiple pathways. Alcohol’s psychological, cognitive and motor effects contribute to sexual assault."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4484270/

It's tough because we don't even think about alcohol as a powerful 'drug' even in medicine.  

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/sep/22/alcohol-date-rape-drug-facilitated-sexual-assault-dfsa 

"Alcohol is such an integral part of our culture we frequently underestimate its potency. Among its toxic effects are memory impairment, which typically begins after just one or two drinks. Alcohol-induced blackouts are common among young, social drinkers. A study in 1999 found that 35% of trainees in a large paediatric residency programme in the US had experienced an alcohol-induced blackout. Another study in 1995 found a third of first–year medical students had experienced alcohol-induced amnesia." 

Unfortunately, alcohol is also also the most important  date rape drug:

"detailed examination of the testing results does not support the contention that any single drug, apart from alcohol, can be particularly identified as a ‘date rape’ drug”.

http://www.jflmjournal.org/article/S1353-1131(01)90513-9/abstract

It doesn't mean it's not a problem - "Impaired Physicians" is one of the priorities of the Medical Regulatory Agencies of Canada.  https://fmrac.ca (ahead even of Physician Competence).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...