A Saint John doctor is currently restricted from seeing female patients after a woman told police he had assaulted her.
Since then, eight more women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault.
Dr. Alan Cockeram, a gastroenterologist, has been practicing in Saint John for the past 25 years. Police say the allegations against him date back to the late 1980s.
“In 2011 we had one female person come in and allege she was a victim of a sexual assault,” confirms Saint John Police Sgt. Jay Henderson. “As a result, Dr. Cockeram was charged with a sexual assault.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick say the charges first date back to 1987. According to the college’s registrar, Cockeram is alleged to have touched women inappropriately during breast exams.
“Even though these are unproven matters, nothing has been proven,” says Ed Schollenberg of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick.
“We felt it was in the best interest of the public that there be no contact with female patients until the matter is completed.”
Horizon Health made the first move to restrict Cockeram from seeing female patients, even though he’s not an employee.
Today, the college took it a step further.
“Because of the complaints being all of a similar nature, it was felt by our executive that there should be future action taken before, rather than waiting for the entire process to go in the interim to protect the public, there should be a restriction on his license,” says Schollenberg.
Cockeram was notified today, along with New Brunswick Medicare.
He is expected in court for a preliminary hearing on June 17.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar
