Doctor did not sexually assault patients during exams, judge finds

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Calgary heart specialist Michael Stephen Connelly has been cleared of allegations he sexually assaulted feminine sufferers throughout routine exams.

However the physician didn’t escape legal legal responsibility over his actions, with 4 girls accusing him of inappropriate behaviour.

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Justice Allan Fradsham convicted Connelly, 67, of a cost of widespread assault for hugging one affected person and giving her a peck on the cheek with out her consent.

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The Calgary Court docket of Justice decide discovered that whereas the physician’s conduct in that exact incident was inappropriate, he couldn’t discover it was for a sexual goal.

“(The complainant) didn’t consent to being kissed and hugged by Dr. Connelly,” Fradsham stated in a prolonged written choice posted on-line on Monday.

“Although clearly inappropriate within the circumstances of a patient-physician relationship, I can not conclude past an inexpensive doubt that the hug and kiss occurred in sexual circumstances,” Fradsham stated.

“It’s not apparent {that a} affordable viewer would see a sexual nature in these acts.”

Fradsham additionally acquitted Connelly of three different allegations of sexual assault. Two additional expenses had been earlier withdrawn by the Crown.

In a single occasion, he discovered Connelly’s hand got here into contact with the breast of a former affected person, who has since died, however the Crown had not confirmed it was with out the girl’s consent.

In one other, the decide stated he was “suspicious,” however had an inexpensive doubt there was non-consensual touching that violated the girl’s sexual integrity, and within the closing incident he stated he may give little weight to the complainant’s declare Connelly cupped her breast.

Fradsham will hear sentencing submissions on the assault conviction on Thursday.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts

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