Sanctions on local doctor lifted after ruling on sexual misconduct overturned

By Medicine Hat News on June 26, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A professional standards appeal board has quashed a ruling that a Medicine Hat doctor performed sex acts with an autistic patient eight years ago.

That lifts sanctions against Dr. Ian Gebhardt, and also denies a cross-appeal by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta officials that the sanctions were too light and a permanent ban was needed.

It also recommend the case not be re-prosecuted.

“The appeal panel determined not to refer the matter for a rehearing due to (the complainant’s) lack of testamentary capacity and due to the passage of time,” reads a decision rendered this spring and released on June 23.

In April 2024, a CPSA disciplinary hearing found that “on a balance of probabilities” Gebhardt had initiated oral sex with the male patient during a 2017 examination..

In the appeal this winter, Gebhardt argued that the man “was not a competent witness and his testimony should not have been admitted,” as he was “easily confused” and the tribunal did not properly consider “multiple, significant inconsistencies” in his testimony.

Law enforcement officials laid charges against Gebhardt relating to the accusation in 2017, but the matter was withdrawn mid-trial by prosecutors.

The CPSA initiated a disciplinary hearing related to the case in 2023, and found that the alleged victim’s testimony was believable to the point of concluding a breach of standards had occurred.

It ruled that the two men touched and placed their mouths on each other’s genitals during a June 6, 2017, as described by the complainant to a female relative and a case worker at that time.

At the time of the April 2024 ruling, Gebhardt was suspended for 20 months, though 18 months had already passed, and required to pay some costs of the hearing.

The practice was also required to have a chaperone present for all in-person and virtual examinations for an indefinite period of time – a condition that is now lifted.

The stated justification for 2024 suspension, rather than termination of his licence, was that the events occurred before new legislation was in place that would have allowed harsher punishment.

At that time, the CPSA complaints director argued a permanent ban was justified given the seriousness of the case. It launched a formal appeal of the sanctions at the same time Gebhardt appealed the ruling in September 2024.

In the new ruling, the appeal board ruled the original tribunal’s reasoning on penalties was sound and should not be reconsidered.

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