Medical stethoscope isolated on the white background, clipping path included.

By Teagan Rasche

Email was sent to patients Monday

Local doctor charged with sexual assault reopening practice

Jan 13, 2022 | 12:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A local doctor charged by Ontario police with sexual assault and sexual interference intends to re-open his family medical clinic in Medicine Hat.

York Regional Police charged Ian Gebhardt after a man reported he had been sexually assaulted as a young child in 1988 and 1989. The investigation uncovered a second victim.

Gebhardt went to trial in Medicine Hat in 2018 on a charge of sexually assaulting a patient, but the charge was stayed.

On Monday, The Gebhardt Family Medicine Clinic sent an email to patients saying they are preparing to reopen the office at the same location but their focus is shifting.

Patients must be 16 years of age or older and they will no longer prescribe narcotics except for treating active cancer pain. Sedatives such as Ativan and Xanax will also not be prescribed for chronic use.

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Gebhardt is currently listed as ‘inactive’ on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta’s website.

A statement from CPSA says:

“Generally speaking, CPSA’s role is not to presume guilt before a criminal or CPSA investigation has taken place. That said, our first priority is to protect the public. A physician who is inactive, for any reason, but wishes to return to practice would work with CPSA so we can assess their situation on a case-by-case basis. Through that process, CPSA would determine if any practice conditions or restrictions are needed to ensure patient safety. Any conditions placed on a physician’s practice permit are posted to the physician’s public profile on our website.”

The only condition on Gebhardt’s profile is he must have a chaperone in attendance when examining and interviewing all patients.

There’s no word on the exact date the practice will reopen.