Saturday, July 31, 2010
AUBREY LEVIN: CBC REPORTS THAT PSYCHIATRIST CHARGED WITH ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTING PATIENTS WORKED IN S.A. FOR MILITARY UNDER APARTHEID;
"Levin was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in March. He came to Canada in the 1990s from South Africa, where he had worked as a psychiatrist for the military during the apartheid era."
CBC NEWS;
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BACKGROUND: Dr. Aubrey Levin, 71, was first arrested and charged March 23 after allegations that a 36-year-old patient was repeatedly sexually assaulted. Calgary Police said that following that charge, “the sex crimes unit was approached by numerous people alleging they, too, were Sexually assaulted by Levin during counselling sessions or court-ordered visits. These assaults allegedly occurred at Levin's Peter Lougheed (hospital) office or examination rooms. Dr. Levin has now been charged with 20 additional counts of sexual assault involving 20 other patients. Alberta Justice has been reviewing all criminal cases in which Dr. Levin offered testimony to ensure there were no miscarriages of justice. Spokesman David Dear said the work in 17 cases in which Dr. Levin was currently involved has been redone by other psychiatrists. The department is currently reviewing 21 other cases which had been finished. Mr. Dear said that Dr. Levin most commonly gave expert testimony to help the court make decisions on sentencing for people who had already been convicted.
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"A Calgary psychiatrist who had been facing a single charge of sexual assault against a patient now faces 20 additional counts, police said Friday," the CBC story published earlier today begins, under the heading, "Calgary psychiatrist Dr. Aubrey Levin now faces 21 charges of sexual assault, based on allegations by patients.
"Dr. Aubrey Levin, 71, was first charged in March after one of his long-term patients came forward with an allegation," the story continues.
"The Calgary police sex crimes unit was subsequently approached by 20 former patients, who claimed Levin assaulted them during counselling sessions or court-ordered visits.
Levin regularly worked with justice officials on criminal cases, evaluating defendants and providing expert testimony in court.
It's alleged that assaults took place in Levin's office or in examination rooms at the Peter Lougheed Centre, police said.
Levin appeared in provincial court Friday morning. He was allowed to remain free on bail under several conditions. He must:
* Not have contact with alleged victims.
* Not practise medicine of any kind.
* Appear at court when requested.
* Surrender his passport and remain in Canada, except with written permission from the court.
Levin was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in March. He came to Canada in the 1990s from South Africa, where he had worked as a psychiatrist for the military during the apartheid era."
The story can be found at:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/30/calgary-levin-psychiatrist-charges-new-twenty.html
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-feature-cases-issues-and.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;