London doctor found guilty of professional misconduct, stripped of license to practice

Nearly seven years after he was caught up in an undercover sting, a London doctor has had his license to practice revoked.

The news was delivered in a statement from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario on Wednesday after a hearing by its disciplinary committee.

The body found Dr. Harvey Christopher Hyson guilty of professional misconduct and engaging in conduct unbecoming of a physician in connection with a case dating back to April, 2012.

The committee heard Hyson was caught in an undercover operation by members of the London Police Service, in which an officer was posing as a 16-year-old girl named Janice who was described as a “sweet and petite young girl” in an ad on Craigslist.

Hyson allegedly responded to the ad and continued to exchange emails with the undercover officer from personal IP addresses, as well as those belonging to the London Health Sciences Centre and Western University before arranging to meet and pay $300 for “oral and straight-up sex.”

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

WATCH: Pennsylvania cop arrested over alleged sexual misconduct involving multiple women

1:31 Pennsylvania cop arrested over alleged sexual misconduct involving multiple women

The committee heard officers arrested Hyson in a vehicle, approaching the meeting location with the money that had been agreed upon in their electronic communications.

“Dr. Hyson tried to exploit and take advantage of someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl solely for his sexual gratification,” said Simmy Dhamrait, legal counsel for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. “Dr. Hyson continued to communicate with this person he believed to be a young girl and proceeded to persistently and actively pursue this person. The College submits that his behaviour was reprehensible, he sought to exploit this person he believed to be a young girl and he sought to do so for his own sexual gratification.

“This is a case that erodes public confidence in the medical profession and warrants revocation.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is a case that erodes public confidence in the medical profession and warrants revocation."

Hyson pleaded guilty in December 2016 to a criminal charge of stopping his vehicle to obtain services from a sex worker.

He pleaded no contest to the charges from the college and he’s been fined $6,000, reprimanded and his license to practice has been revoked immediately.

The college also noted Hyson waived his right to appeal.