Manitoba doctor sentenced to 12 years in prison for sex assaults

A former Manitoba doctor who sexually assaulted seven female patients has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in what a judge describes as a violation of trust and abuse of authority. 

Arcel Bissonnette, 64, was convicted last year of sexually assaulting five patients and pleaded guilty earlier this year to the sex assaults of two others. 

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that you have scarred your victims, perhaps for life,” Court of King’s Bench Justice Sadie Bond told a sentencing hearing on Thursday.

“You violated their trust and abused your authority as their doctor.”

Court heard the assaults happened during physical exams Bissonnette conducted over 20 years in Ste. Anne, southeast of Winnipeg. 

Some victims, whose names are protected under a publication ban, told a hearing earlier this year that the assaults left them with long-term anxiety and fear. Some talked of depression and having to go to counselling. 

Some were in the courtroom Thursday, but declined to comment on Bond’s decision.

The judge thanked the women for their courage to testify. 

“The impact on each victim has been unique to her, but for each and every one it has been profound,” said Bond. 

The defence was seeking a nine-year sentence, arguing Bissonnette has lost his medical licence, has abided by bail conditions and has good prospects for rehabilitation. Bissonnette has not worked since his arrest in 2020, and was later stripped of his medical licence by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.

Crown prosecutors were calling for a prison term of 18 years, saying the doctor took advantage of the women’s trust.

Bond told the court the final sentence had to be proportionate to the gravity of the offences, and that Bissonnette has good prospects for rehabilitation. 

“With counselling and therapy, (Bissonnette) may well come to recognize that his conduct is criminal and that he caused significant pain, suffering and ongoing harm to his victims.”

Crown prosecutor Renee Lagimodiere said the sentence shows the criminal justice system appreciates the harm caused by sexual offences. 

“Mr. Bissonnette was able to sexually assault these women because many of them did not know what the exams entailed or they did not feel comfortable speaking up or they trusted that what he was doing was medically necessary,” Lagimodiere told reporters. 

“Mr. Bissonnette breached that trust in the most egregious of ways.”

Lagimodiere called for more public education on women’s health so female patients are made aware of what is supposed to take place during physical exams. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.