The College's five-member discipline committee rendered its decision on July 24, unanimously dismissing allegations that Dr. Joseph Wong sexually abused a patient or committed disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct.
"While Dr. Wong had no doubt that he would be exonerated once the truth of this matter was revealed through the course of a hearing, he is grateful to finally be able to put this matter behind him," said Wong's lawyer, Tracey Tremayne-Lloyd.
Wong, the former president of the Canadian Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included an accusation that he coerced a patient into having sex with him.
A 37-year-old woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, testified before the committee that on two occasions in January 2003, Wong forced her to have sex with him at her Toronto apartment. She said she was afraid he would refuse to perform plastic surgery on her if she refused to have sex with him.
However, the panel determined that while Wong made two house calls to the woman's apartment, he did not behave inappropriately during the visits or during any other encounters with the patient.
Wong's lawyers attacked his accuser's credibility during her testimony. They asked her if she had left a message on the cosmetic surgeon's telephone line threatening to expose him on the eve of a prestigious trip to China he was making as part of a delegation led by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
"Didn't you say, 'I'm sure 100 per cent (Wong's) licence will be revoked,'" Tremayne-Lloyd asked, referring to a transcript of the phone call.
"I probably said that," the woman responded.
The woman said she was angry because she had not been paid money she had been promised by Wong's office.
The Toronto woman admitted during testimony that she once filed a sexual harassment complaint against a municipal official that was later withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
The committee found that the patient’s complaints against Wong were motivated by financial gain, and then by revenge when her efforts at financial gain were thwarted.
Ultimately, the committee felt it couldn't rely on the patient’s testimony, because of “the pervasive inconsistency of her evidence, her faulty memory, inaccuracies in her evidence and the overall lack of plausibility of her testimony.”
The disciplinary committee found Wong to be “straightforward, forthright and professional” in his testimony.
Wong was formerly the division head of the ear, nose and throat department at Credit Valley Hospital. He has had medical privileges there since 1988.
The doctor has been on a leave of absence at his own request for nearly a year, but is expected to soon return to work.
Wong founded the Smile China project, in which Canadian surgeons, nurses and volunteers travel to China every year to perform surgery on children affected by facial deformities. For his efforts, Wong has been awarded the Ontario Medal of Good Citizenship.
The committee also noted that Wong had engaged in “commendable” humanitarian activities, including the Smile China project.
lrosella@mississauga.net
