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Gravelle and two others came forward to CBC News last month, detailing sexual assault allegations against former RCMP doctor John A. Macdougall.\u00a0(Rachel Houlihan\/CBC)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nThe women complained to the RCMP, Toronto police and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario at the time, but their concerns went nowhere.<\/p>\n
In early 2018, Toronto police reopened their investigation after dozens of women came forward, emboldened by the #MeToo movement, alleging they too were assaulted by Macdougall.<\/p>\n
‘No grounds’\u00a0for charges<\/h2>\n
Macdougall retired in 2001. He is now in his mid-80s and lives in a retirement home west of Toronto. According to his lawyer, Macdougall has dementia, suffered near-fatal pneumonia recently and is living with around-the clock care. His family has declined to comment.<\/p>\n
But in 1991, when the three women first complained to Ontario’s medical regulator, Macdougall explained he elected to do lengthy breast exams on new recruits in an effort to teach\u00a0self-examination technique. He was silent on the other allegations of unwanted touching and invasive vaginal exams.<\/p>\n
Following the women’s complaints the RCMP\u00a0banned all staff physicians from conducting gynecological exams and laid out proper breast-exam techniques.<\/div>\n
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This photo of John A. Macdougall was taken when he graduated from the University of Toronto in 1963.\u00a0(University of Toronto)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nToronto police on Tuesday told CBC News that they “know that many involved in this case are angry and frustrated.” But they say they have closed the file after review of the 30 women’s statements and are “confident” in their decision not to lay charges.<\/p>\n
“Our investigative efforts were unbiased and extended beyond these statements to include a review of documentation, consideration for case law and research into what may have been acceptable medical practice at the time,” said Gray in her statement.<\/p>\n
“We had to determine whether or not grounds existed to prove there was a sexual purpose for the actions that took place. Without those grounds, we simply could not lay charges.\u00a0\u2026\u00a0We know that many involved in this case are angry and frustrated but, pending any new information that is brought forward, we are confident in the decisions we have made.”<\/p>\n
‘I am flabbergasted’<\/h2>\n
Sylvie Corriveau, one of the three women to complain about Macdougall in the 1990s, says she is “disillusioned” by the Toronto police decision.<\/p>\n
“You have 30-odd strangers stating the same thing, and the doctor’s word means more,” said Corriveau, a senior RCMP employee based in Ottawa. “Many of the victims are still serving peace officers, do their sworn statements not mean anything?”<\/p>\n