Committee: Discipline
Decision Date: 21 Feb 2018
Summary:
On February 21, 2018, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Leslie Curtis Wright committed an act of professional misconduct, in that he has engaged in conduct unbecoming a physician.
Dr. Wright is a psychiatrist who practises in Toronto. He obtained his medical degree in 1993, completed his specialty training in psychiatry in 1998, and obtained his Certificate of Independent Practice in Ontario on June 30, 1998.
In about 2012, Dr. Wright became particularly active on social media sites, including Facebook groups touching on various social and political issues, including feminist issues.
When posting messages in the online chat groups, Dr. Wright identified himself as a psychiatrist who is single and practising in the city of Toronto.
Beginning in 2012, Dr. Wright began to, by various online messaging routes, systematically approach and befriend women who were also followers of the Facebook groups in which Dr. Wright participated, or who were friends of the followers he befriended. All of the women resided in the United States. After establishing a connection, Dr. Wright would immediately send numerous messages to the women. The original messages were about shared issues from the Facebook groups (generally “progressive” feminist issues). In the messages, Dr. Wright referred to his status as a psychiatrist in Ontario and discussed therapeutic techniques and mental health issues in a general manner. Dr. Wright then rapidly sexualized the conversations, engaging in online sexual relationships in a lewd manner. This included sending the women naked pictures of himself, including his genitalia, and encouraging them to send him naked pictures of themselves, including their genitalia. He engaged in repeated, explicit and graphic intimate and online sexual behaviour with multiple women at the same time. When one of the women got upset with him about his continued sexualization of their discussions, he replied “No one is responsible for another’s feelings. Cardinal rule in my line of work.” On occasion, Dr. Wright would provide medical comments directly connected to the women’s own health issues such as post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and the use of narcotics.
The women with whom Dr. Wright established these relationships on the internet learned that he had engaged in the same behaviour with multiple women at the same time. The women requested that Dr. Wright cease contacting them, but he did not immediately do so. The women were not patients of Dr. Wright.
The College has a guideline on social media use by its members. It recommends, among other things, that physicians:
“Protect their own reputation, the reputation of the profession, and the public trust by not posting content that could be viewed as unprofessional. Be mindful of their Internet presence, and be proactive in removing content posted by themselves or others which may be viewed as unprofessional.”
Disposition
On February 21, 2018, the Committee ordered and directed that:
- The Registrar suspend Dr. Wright’s Certificate of Registration for a one month period, commencing February 22, 2018.
- The Registrar impose the following as a term, condition and limitation on Dr. Wright’s certificate of registration:
- Dr. Wright will successfully complete the PROBE course in ethics and professionalism by obtaining an unconditional pass, at his own expense, or any alternate course in ethics and professionalism approved by the College, by August 31, 2018. Dr. Wright will agree to abide by any recommendations of the PROBE program and provide proof of completion to the College.
- Dr. Wright appear before the panel to be reprimanded.
- Dr. Wright pay costs to the College in the amount of $5,500.00 within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order.