Ex-doctor convicted of sexually assaulting five patients admits to two others, avoids upcoming trial

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A former Ste. Anne family doctor convicted last fall of sexually assaulting five patients pleaded guilty Thursday to two more sex crimes, avoiding another trial set to begin next week.

Arcel Bissonnette admitted in a Winnipeg courtroom that he sexually assaulted the women during physical examinations in 2005 and 2011 at the Seine Medical Centre in Ste. Anne.

Bissonnette, 64, acknowledged his actions were without each woman’s consent and violated their “sexual integrity,” but were not committed for his own sexual gratification.

“There is an agreement by the Crown and defence that the acts were not done for a sexual purpose,” prosecutor Renee Lagimodiere told King’s Bench Justice Ken Champagne.

During a detailed plea inquiry, defence lawyer Marty Minuk had Bissonnette confirm his guilty pleas were informed and voluntary and that he was aware his sentence will likely include incarceration and possible lifelong consequences, including restrictions on his travel and inclusion on the national DNA and sexual offender registries.

According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court, Bissonnette on two occasions in 2005 conducted an invasive pelvirectal examination on a 20-year-old woman without her consent. The examination involved Bissonnette inserting his fingers into the woman’s rectum and moving them “up and down and back and forth.”

The examination caused the woman to be “uncomfortable, in pain, and in shock,” said the agreed statement of facts.

During a physical examination of a 19-year-old woman in 2011, Bissonnette directed the woman to get completely undressed and provided her with no covering before touching her back and having her bend over. During another part of the examination, Bissonnette had the woman position herself on her hands and knees before inserting an anoscope into her rectum without her consent.

“Both acts violated (the victim’s) sexual integrity,” said the agreed statement of facts.

Bissonnette was set to stand trial Monday for sexually assaulting four former patients. Charges involving six alleged victims were previously stayed by the Crown. Charges involving another two alleged victims were stayed Thursday.

Sentencing submissions will be heard in June by the same judge who convicted Bissonnette last November of sexually assaulting five different women.

Bissonnette’s conduct with all five women “was sexual in nature and without (their) consent,” King’s Bench Justice Sadie Bond told court Nov. 28.

At trial, the five women testified about examinations that included pelvic exams in which Bissonnette repeatedly inserted and removed his fingers from their vaginas, pelvirectal exams involving the simultaneous insertion of fingers into the rectum and vagina for which Bissonnette provided no explanation or warning, and unnecessary breast exams.

Three of the women alleged they saw or may have seen Bissonnette with an erection during or following the examinations.

Bissonnette testified and denied any wrongdoing, saying either the examinations did not occur as the victims testified or that the examinations were “medically indicated” and consistent with his training.

Bissonnette has not practised medicine since November 2020, when he was first charged by police.

Last month, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba formally revoked his medical licence.

“Dr. Bissonnette’s actions are disgraceful and dishonourable and revoking his licence is unquestionably necessary to protect the public,” college registrar Dr. Anna Ziomek said in a written statement at the time.

Bissonnette remains free on bail.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca

Dean Pritchard
Courts reporter

Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean.

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