Sexual harassment and bullying claims against B.C. doctor lead to legal fight with national body

A would-be candidate for president of Canada's largest professional organization for doctors has had his membership in the group reinstated by a judge, following allegations he sexually harassed medical residents and bullied junior staff members.

In a recent judgment, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Nathan Smith set aside the suspension of Dr. Charles Webb's membership in the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), writing that the Vancouver physician was denied his right to procedural fairness.

The judge said Webb had a right to see an independent reviewer's report on the allegations and to respond to the findings.

"Because Dr. Webb never received the report, he has no way of knowing how the allegations were substantiated," Smith wrote.

"Presumably, the reviewer drew conclusions on the complainants' credibility, but Dr. Webb does not know the basis for those conclusions."

The judge did not, however, agree with the arguments in Webb's petition suggesting he was entitled to an oral hearing with the right to cross-examine complainants.

Webb has denied all of the allegations against him and says they are too vague to mount a proper defence.

The CMA is a national voluntary organization representing the majority of doctors across Canada. Webb is a former director for the organization, and has previously served as president of Doctors of B.C. and the Vancouver Medical Association.

The case highlights what CMA president Dr. Katharine Smart calls an ongoing problem with harassment and bullying within the culture of medicine.

"I've experienced this many times throughout my training and as an attending physician, and we recognize that that is a huge challenge in front of us as a profession and as an organization," she told CBC.

"We are deeply committed to challenging that environment."

Smart said the allegations against Webb were raised at a board meeting last fall.

According to affidavits filed in connection with the case, Webb received a notice on Nov. 4, 2021 saying the CMA was proposing a 364-day suspension of his membership, subject to a review by a third party investigator and any written submissions from Webb.

The CMA's affidavits say the review confirmed Webb made unwelcome sexual comments to a resident and directors of the CMA board, bullied and harassed CMA staff and directors, and breached confidentiality by disclosing confidential information he'd received as a board member.