Ont. neurologist charged with sexually assaulting patients takes the stand

Warning: This story includes discussion of sexual assault.

A former Kitchener, Ont. neurologist charged with sexually assaulting dozens of female patients is on the stand Wednesday.

Jeffrey Sloka faces 50 counts of sexual assault in what is one of the largest investigations of its kind in Ontario.

The alleged incidents happened at Sloka's private practice office at the Kaufman Building at Grand River Hospital between January 2010 and July 2017.

Previously during the trial, court heard Sloka allegedly asked female patients, including some teenagers, to take off their clothes for physical and skin exams and touched their breasts and genitalia.

On Wednesday, Sloka’s lawyers asked him to explain the medical reasons why he would need to touch sensitive areas.

A defence lawyer presented an image showing five places on the chest Sloka said he would examine using a stethoscope during cardiac assessments.

Sloka testified that before each exam he would ask the patient: “Is it okay if we move the gown down so I can listen to the areas beneath?”

If a patient was uncomfortable, Sloka said he would modify the exam and allow them to keep their shirt on.

To examine the chest, Sloka said “only the back of [his] hand would touch the breast” unless there was “accidental contact.”

Sloka also performed skin exams. He testified that freckles and markings on the skin may be indicators of neurological diseases such as neurofibromatosis, saying markings on skinfolds such as in the groin area are cause for concern.

When asked if he would ever touch the genitals, Sloka answered: “very rarely, only if there’s a visual lump or something abnormal. There’s no need.”

He also testified he: “minimized female patients [he] would see after hours. They were told to bring a friend or someone with them.”

After the exam he said he would say: “I'll let you get yourself back together, join me next door when you're ready.”

Sloka’s medical licence was revoked in April 2019 following several complaints by patients to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He was criminally charged later that year.

During her opening statement, Crown lawyer Sidney McLean said all of the victims were patients sent to Sloka for what she described as “urgent care of serious and in some cases life-altering medical conditions.”

The Crown alleges Sloka exploited their trust in him as a neurologist.

At one point, the former doctor was facing 69 counts of sexual assault related to 69 victims. Several were dropped.

The trial continues Thursday.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, help is available. The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region's 24-hour support line can be reached at 519-741-8633