Anyone been following this?
The Crown and a key defence witness in the sexual assault trial of Toronto anesthesiologist George Doodnaught clashed Tuesday over whether the accused would have risked triggering a “bite-down reflex” by forcing sedated patients to fellate him.
Anesthetist Orlando Hung, one of the final defence witnesses in the months-long trial, said patients under conscious sedation may reflexively clamp their teeth together if a stimulus is placed in their mouth. His testimony bolsters the anticipated defence argument that Dr. Doodnaught would never have taken such a risk with his own genitalia.
“A bite-down reflex occurs when you have a stimulus of some kind… in the oral cavity,” Dr. Hung testified, citing the example of a breathing tube. “It’s just a reflex that you bite.”
Dr. Doodnaught, who worked behind a sterile screen separating him from the surgical team at North York General Hospital, stands charged with molesting 21 sedated patients over a four-year period ending in 2010. Allegations range from kissing, to fondling, to forced fellatio on the drugged and vulnerable women.
Crown attorney David Wright suggested there was never any real risk that patients would clamp down on Dr. Doodnaught’s *****, noting the bite-down reflex was “very rare” and there were no scientific studies to show it occurred among consciously sedated patients, as opposed to those under general anesthetic. The women in question were under conscious sedation at the time of the alleged assaults, connoting a greater level of awareness.
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“A patient in that circumstance can have the bite-down reflex?” he asked.
“You have to have a stimulus… It’s possible [in this state] that you will bite down,” Dr. Hung testified.
Speaking to the details of the allegations, the Crown asked whether a doctor could realistically manipulate a consciously sedated patient’s body by turning their head to the side, opening their mouth and placing a “soft object” inside — all while the patient remained in a “twilight state” on the operating table.
“It would be very difficult,” Dr. Hung responded. “When you have someone under light anesthesia, they usually fight you… The moment you stimulate them, [the patient] will wake up.”
Dr. Hung, who cited a number of cases in which patients have levelled false sexual accusations against doctors, said while sedated patients may later recall conversations and other events that occur in the operating room, those recollections can be inaccurate due to “the influence of so many drugs.”
Mr. Wright asked why, considering the litany of allegations against Dr. Doodnaught, none involved male patients.
“It is absolutely extraordinary that no males have come forward complaining of sexual assault,” he said.
Dr. Hung said the literature shows both men and women sometimes report sexual dreams while under the influence of sedatives, but as to the prevalence of female patients coming forward in the Doodnaught case: “I cannot explain why.”
The trial continues Wednesday.
People ‘bite down’ under sedation, says defence witness in trial of doctor charged with forcing oral sex on patients | National Post
The Crown and a key defence witness in the sexual assault trial of Toronto anesthesiologist George Doodnaught clashed Tuesday over whether the accused would have risked triggering a “bite-down reflex” by forcing sedated patients to fellate him.
Anesthetist Orlando Hung, one of the final defence witnesses in the months-long trial, said patients under conscious sedation may reflexively clamp their teeth together if a stimulus is placed in their mouth. His testimony bolsters the anticipated defence argument that Dr. Doodnaught would never have taken such a risk with his own genitalia.
“A bite-down reflex occurs when you have a stimulus of some kind… in the oral cavity,” Dr. Hung testified, citing the example of a breathing tube. “It’s just a reflex that you bite.”
Dr. Doodnaught, who worked behind a sterile screen separating him from the surgical team at North York General Hospital, stands charged with molesting 21 sedated patients over a four-year period ending in 2010. Allegations range from kissing, to fondling, to forced fellatio on the drugged and vulnerable women.
Crown attorney David Wright suggested there was never any real risk that patients would clamp down on Dr. Doodnaught’s *****, noting the bite-down reflex was “very rare” and there were no scientific studies to show it occurred among consciously sedated patients, as opposed to those under general anesthetic. The women in question were under conscious sedation at the time of the alleged assaults, connoting a greater level of awareness.
Related
- Sedated patients unlikely to have sexual dreams, Dr. Doodnaught trial hears
- Defence in trial of doctor accused of fondling, forcing oral sex on patients questions reliability of victims’ testimony
“A patient in that circumstance can have the bite-down reflex?” he asked.
“You have to have a stimulus… It’s possible [in this state] that you will bite down,” Dr. Hung testified.
Speaking to the details of the allegations, the Crown asked whether a doctor could realistically manipulate a consciously sedated patient’s body by turning their head to the side, opening their mouth and placing a “soft object” inside — all while the patient remained in a “twilight state” on the operating table.
“It would be very difficult,” Dr. Hung responded. “When you have someone under light anesthesia, they usually fight you… The moment you stimulate them, [the patient] will wake up.”
Dr. Hung, who cited a number of cases in which patients have levelled false sexual accusations against doctors, said while sedated patients may later recall conversations and other events that occur in the operating room, those recollections can be inaccurate due to “the influence of so many drugs.”
Mr. Wright asked why, considering the litany of allegations against Dr. Doodnaught, none involved male patients.
“It is absolutely extraordinary that no males have come forward complaining of sexual assault,” he said.
Dr. Hung said the literature shows both men and women sometimes report sexual dreams while under the influence of sedatives, but as to the prevalence of female patients coming forward in the Doodnaught case: “I cannot explain why.”
The trial continues Wednesday.
People ‘bite down’ under sedation, says defence witness in trial of doctor charged with forcing oral sex on patients | National Post