Former doctor accused of sexual assault denies allegations in testimony

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DISCLAIMER: The coverage of this lawsuit contains details of the sexual assault allegations.

Sylvester Ukabam, a former Regina doctor accused of sexually assaulting five female patients, continued to deny the allegations against him in the witness box Wednesday morning.

Ukabam practiced as a gastroenterology specialist in Regina before relinquishing his medical license in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual assault brought against him by five former patients, who accused him of improper acts during physical examinations between 2010 and 2018. .

On Wednesday morning, defense attorney Aaron Fox began by asking Ukabam for more details about the third plaintiff’s medical history at trial. His allegations were first presented to the defendant late on Tuesday.

The complainant, a long-time patient at Ukabam, alleges that the former doctor inappropriately touched her breasts and inserted a finger into her vagina during a physical examination in April 2017.

Fox asked Ukabam to describe the doctor-patient relationship with the woman whom, according to medical records, he had seen more than 20 times.

“In 2017, I would be seeing her for 13 years. During that time, I knew what her main problem was and why she was seeing me. I was also aware of the other problems she had, as well as the multiple stressors in her life,” Ukabam said. “I got to know her as a person and from time to time I would counsel her on those other stressors.

Ukabam said he advised the patient to seek professional help from someone who deals with mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

He said he had this conversation with her several times.

Fox asked Ukabam what he remembered about the date in April 2017.

“What I remember from my memory is that maybe it was a visit that lasted longer than usual because she had so many complaints,” he said.

Ukabam said he carried out a physical examination of the patient.

“After discussing all of her symptoms and all of the new developments, I told her that I would like to do a physical exam with a rectum,” he said.

He said he started the exam by feeling and listening to his abdomen, chest and back.

The patient alleged that he touched her breasts. Ukabam said he performed the chest exam the same way he always would.

Ukabam said he remembered the examination that day and did not recall her breasts being exposed during the examination.

The former doctor said he also carried out a strength test on her arms and legs, based on the complaints she had expressed.

He said that to perform the leg test he had to move a chair that was near the foot of the examination bed. The patient testified that Ukabam placed a chair under the handle of the examination room door.

He said he didn’t do that and he didn’t do anything to confine her to the room.

After the strength test, Ukabam said he told the patient he had to do a digital rectal exam. He said it was discussed in the office before the exam started.

He said the patient had no objections when he went to start the digital rectal exam.

Ukabam said the patient had also complained of a yeast infection, so he looked around for abnormalities. He said he did not touch her vagina or insert a finger into her vagina.

He said that during the rectal exam, he asked the patient if he had pain moving his finger, which he said is normal practice for finding anal abnormalities.

The patient alleged that he asked her if it hurt when he touched her vagina.

After the examination was completed, Ukabam said he asked the patient to come to his office to review his findings.

“I told him the only physical findings I had from the physical exam were just tenderness in the back area. Everything else was normal,” he said.

Fox asked the defendant to review the medications prescribed to the patient over the years, including treatments for her stomach issues. He also highlighted an antidepressant and painkillers.

More details to come…

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