Montreal gynecologist’s license withdrawn over allegations of inappropriate comments

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A Montreal gynecologist with a long history of disciplinary investigations had his license revoked until further notice by his professional order after he allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments in the presence of a pregnant woman.

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Obstetrician-gynecologist Allan B. Climan, who was licensed in 1983 and most recently worked at Jewish General Hospital, is no longer allowed to practice medicine, according to a opinion of the Collège des médecins du Québec’s disciplinary council dated July 25. A plea hearing will then be held.

The council is “concerned with the protection of the public if the defendant continues to practice his profession,” the ruling says. The immediate suspension of a medical professional’s license is an “exceptional measure”, the council added.

The decision comes about three years after Climan was fined $2,500 and stripped of his license for two years for making “vulgar and inappropriate” sexual comments while examining a patient. He was readmitted by the Collège des médecins last year, on the condition that a woman be present at all times during the exams.

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From 1989 to 2020, Climan was the subject of 11 disciplinary investigations, according to the council.

The most recent incident occurred on April 22, when Climan was examining a woman in the delivery room of the Jewish General Hospital.

Nurse Eden Siv, who was working with Climan for the first time that day, testified that the doctor whispered “Thanks for the good time” as he removed his gloves afterward. The patient later told the disciplinary board that she did not hear him say those words.

Five examinations of the woman were carried out between 6:25 and 10:45 pm on April 22, according to the council. One, at 8 at night, did not appear in her file. The doctor performed the examination alone.

Climan ultimately acknowledged that the words he used were “misplaced, wrong and poorly chosen, poor choice of words,” the ruling states. He insisted the words were not sexual in nature, adding that he was referring to how the exam seemed to rule out possible complications.

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According to the woman’s partner, Climan sometimes used humor during exams to lighten the mood. On April 22, she joked about the couple’s sex life after giving birth, the ruling said.

In his defense, Climan told the council that the couple expressed satisfaction with his services and the tests he performed. He also said that he had to examine the patient only due to an urgent situation and because he could not find a nurse at the time.

Climan’s behavior “demonstrates that he does not appear to be able to respect crucial ethical obligations, such as when he makes sexually abusive comments or fails to comply with practice limitations placed on him for the protection of the public,” the council said. As a result, “the protection of the public may be compromised if the defendant continues to practice medicine.”