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7 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,M ay 16,2019 w aterloochronicle.ca THIS WEEKS DEALS! MAY 16 - 19 4 DAYS ONLY! THUR 9-9 FRI SAT SUN 9-9 9-6 10-5 IN ST OCK $167/ LIN FT$157/ LIN FT67¢ / LIN FT 67 / LIN FT 67 7/83 " 5¼" 5½" MDF PRIMED WHITE BASEBOARDS IN ST OCK PRINTED TILES NEW! $297REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99/ SQ FTFROM FLOOR OR WALL IN ST OCK 12" X 24" PORCELAIN $179REG 4.99.99.99.99.99.99/ SQ FTFROM MODERN LOOK IN ST OCK 2-TONE FRIEZE CARPET $167REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99/ SQ FTFROM PLUS NO TAX! IN ST OCK $337REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99REG 6.99/ SQ FTFROM HANDSCRAPED CLICK ENG. HICKORY HARDWOOD IN ST OCK SWISS-MADE LAMINATE 89¢REG 1.59REG 1.59REG 1.59REG 1.59REG 1.59REG 1.59/ SQ FT¢/ SQ FT¢FROM89FROM89 HOT BUY! IN ST OCK DISTRESSED LAMINATE $157REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99REG 3.99/ SQ FTFROM BARN BOARD LOOK IN ST OCK SPC CLICK VINYL $177REG 4.99REG 4.99REG 4.99REG 4.99REG 4.99REG 4.99/ SQ FTFROM 6MM THICK 1362VICTORIA ST N. KITCHENER MON-FRI 9AM-9PM SAT 9AM-6PM SUN 10AM-5PM KITCHENER - A Kitche- ner neurologist has had his licence revoked for sexual abuse of several female pa- tients who said they were left feeling ashamed, anx- ious and unable to trust doc- tors. Dr. Jeffrey Scott Sloka pleaded no contest for a hearing Tuesday by the Col- lege of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Sloka, 50, agreed to never practise medicine in Onta- rio or any other jurisdiction. "These patients were ex- ploited and deceived by Dr. Sloka for his own sexual purposes. They turned to him seeking help for their medical needs and he preyed on them," said col- lege prosecutor Morgana Kellythorne. Sloka, who had an office at Grand River Hospital and privileges St. Mary's Gener- al Hospital, was referred to the college's discipline com- mittee after allegations of professional misconduct. Restrictions were placed on his practice in the fall of 2017, requiring all patient encounters to be done in the presence of a monitor who would submit reports to the college. The hearing included Sloka's encounters with four patients. Two men- tioned their discomfort to other doctors who made re- ports to the college, and two patients contacted the col- lege after learning about the allegations against Sloka. The incidents looked at during the hearing occurred between 2010 and 2018; at least one patient was a teen- ager at the time. The patients' complaints included being asked to un- dress completely for an ex- amination or being inade- quately draped, touching of their breasts, close skin ex- aminations in the nude, and inserting ungloved fingers into a patient's vagina and rectum. One patient told her fam- ily doctor that she believed she had been "felt up" by Slo- ka. The statement of uncon- tested facts concluded that for all four patients, the touching was of a sexual, not clinical nature. Three victim impact statements were read. One said: "I constantly feel shame, embarrassment and anxiety due to the inci- dent." Since the abuse, she said she's lost trust in health-care providers and is no longer able to trust male doctors specifically. The patient, who has epi- lepsy, said she feels betrayed by the medical community. "One should feel safe going to a doctor, a specialist at that. No longer do I feel that way." Her personal relation- ships and daily life have been affected, and her grades suffered as a univer- sity student at the time of the incident. "I feel robbed of many 'normal' experiences such as intimate relationships, doctor visits, school events and living every day life due to the lingering feelings from my experience. I feel angry that this incident shaped part of who I am." Another patient said: "To be assaulted by a doctor at his level to only be regarded as an object for his pleasure has left me empty, and with no self-confidence to the ex- treme, and questioning my whole being as a person." Going to Sloka, she felt hopeful about creating a plan to relieve her symp- toms of multiple sclerosis; she left feeling "nauseated and not understanding what just happened." She was left with no doc- tor for a long time and no treatment, suffering a se- vere relapse, because she would not return to Sloka. "This abuse has left me ashamed, angry, resentful, defeated and incompetent as a parent," she wrote. She questions any deci- sion, and anxiety has left her unable to go out without someone to reassure her that she will be OK. "This anxiety has left the most simple things very diffi- cult," she wrote. "My life has forever changed without my con- sent." A third patient's state- ment started quite simply by saying: "Well, what can I say. I am humiliated." Kellythorne said in her submission to the discipline committee that "Dr. Sloka sexually abused multiple patients during medical ex- aminations. Patients are at their most vulnerable in the examination room, where they rely on doctor's exper- tise and professionalism when it comes to being phys- ically touched or directed to undress." Sloka's lawyer said he did not wish to comment. Grand River Hospital spokesperson Jennifer Con- dick said the hospital was unable to comment on any college proceedings. "Grand River Hospital takes great pride in our exceptional care providers and we trust any decisions made through the CPSO are done in the best interest of our commu- nity." In a statement, St. Mary's General Hospital said: "We are proud of our physicians and respect the decisions of the CPSO." Sloka, who waived his right to appeal, must pay $64,240 to a fund that covers therapy for victims. Any of his patients can apply by contacting the college. KITCHENER NEUROLOGIST CAN NO LONGER PRACTICE AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE OF FEMALE PATIENTS LOCAL JOHANNA WEIDNER jweidner@therecord.com