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TORONTO – The eighth alleged victim of Dr. George Doodnaught testified Thursday that her total trust in the medical system kept her from believing she was the victim of an assault.
The woman – who cannot be named due to a publication ban – testified that she was sexually assaulted while undergoing surgery at North York General Hospital but thought the memories were vivid “hallucinations or dreams” because of her trust in the medical system.
Doodnaught faces 21 charges of sexual assault alleged to have happened during various surgeries at North York General Hospital between 2006 and 2010 where he worked as an anaesthesiologist.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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The woman told the court that Doodnaught assaulted her while she lay on the operating room table but said she cannot remember many details after she received a spinal injection prior to the surgery.
She told the court she was forced to perform oral sex while she lay on the table but under cross-examination said she didn’t see anyone’s genitals.
She also does not remember the oxygen mask she was wearing prior to the surgery being removed.
Like several other alleged victims, the eighth victim said she didn’t go to police with her story until Doodnaught was charged in March 2010.
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The former Chief of Anaesthesiology at North York General Hospital, Dr. Stephen Brown testified Thursday afternoon and described the varying levels of sedation used during surgeries.
Patients were usually under conscious sedation.
According to Brown, conscious sedation can make it difficult for people to remember some events while sedated.
The trial is expected to continue for two months.
Review Global News reporter Catherine McDonald’s live-blog from the courtroom.
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