By Trevor Wilhelm - Windsor Star - 11.09.2024 - [CANADA] - [Sean Carlysle Prabhu]
A Windsor psychiatrist’s licence has been suspended amid accusations he sexually abused a patient then tried to sabotage the ensuing investigation, including posing as the victim in an effort to have the complaint withdrawn.
Dr. Sean Carlysle Prabhu is also set to face a disciplinary tribunal following the investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
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“Between approximately December 2022 and December 2023, Dr. Prabhu engaged in sexual abuse of a patient and/or disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct by, among other things, engaging in a physical sexual encounter with Patient A,” according to a notice of hearing from the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal.
Allegations of the doctor’s alleged “professional misconduct” were referred to the tribunal in July. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario lists Prabhu’s member status as suspended as of Feb. 9, 2024.
A hearing date has not yet been set and none of the allegations have been proven.
Prabhu, who previously had offices in Windsor and Detroit, could not be reached for comment.
He also worked for Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. In response to questions regarding when Prabhu was affiliated with the hospital or if the allegations relate to his time there, a spokesperson stated in an email to the Star that “he has not worked at HDGH for a number of years.”
The notice of hearing states that the alleged victim, referred to as Patient A, was Prabhu’s patient from about 2020 to 2023.
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Other allegations against Prabhu include paying Patient A money in relation to a sexual encounter, sending inappropriate and/or sexual messages and images to Patient A, making inappropriate and/or sexual comments towards the patient, and sharing personal information with her.
Prabhu is also accused of “disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct during the College’s investigation.”
“Among other things,” the college alleges that Prabhu went to Patient A’s home during the probe, asked her to withdraw her complaint, and threatened to send police on a wellness check to her home.
The college also alleges that Prabhu deleted electronic messages from his devices, and sent the investigator a message from Patient A’s device purporting to withdraw the complaint.
If the tribunal finds Prabhu guilty of sexually abusing his patient, the notice of hearing states his certificate of registration will be revoked.
In cases of sexual abuse of a patient, a physician can also be ordered to reimburse the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for any funding provided for the patient.
Other potential orders following a finding of misconduct could include a fine of up to $35,000, and a requirement to pay the college’s hearing expenses. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm.