ABOVE: Global’s Mark Carcasole reports on the latest development in the case of Dr. George Doodnaught
TORONTO – A Toronto anesthesiologist convicted of sexually assaulting 21 sedated women as they underwent surgery was denied bail Wednesday.
Court of Appeal Judge Harry S. LaForme ruled Dr. George Doodnaught‘s release was not in the public’s interest and “his grounds of appeal are weak and not likely to succeed.”
“In cases like this, the need for immediate enforcement of the judgment outweighs the need to review the decision,” LaForme wrote in his ruling.
Doodnaught was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week and had hoped to be released on bail while he appeals his conviction.
During sentencing, Ontario Superior Court Justice David McCombs said Doodnaught’s conduct “did enormous damage and was reprehensible in the extreme.”
READ MORE: Hospital apologizes to patients after Doodnaught guilty verdict
All but one of the assaults took place at the North York General Hospital in Toronto.
The hospital told Doodnaught to take a leave of absence after the last woman he assaulted went to police.
His medical licence was suspended but the College of Physicians and Surgeons still has to hold a disciplinary hearing which could lead to it being revoked.
-with a file from The Canadian Press
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