Former patients detail exams at doctor's sex assault trial - TUUM EST

Former patients detail exams at doctor's sex assault trial
28/06/10 4:43 PM
Former patients detail exams at doctor's sex assault
trial
BY JANA PRUDEN, SASKATCHEWAN NEWS NETWORK; REGINA LEADER-POST JUNE 9, 2010
Dr. Edward Poon walks into
court Tuesday in Regina
Photograph by: Don Healy,
Regina Leader-Post,
Saskatchewan News
Network; Regina Leader-
Post
A young woman told a Regina courtroom that an examination by Dr. Edward Poon at a city walk-in
clinic "felt normal at first," but said she became increasingly uncomfortable and worried as he began
to touch and rub her breasts and then her pelvic area.
The woman testified she was in the examination room for over an hour, and that Poon told her he
was testing "stimulus response."
"I tried to rationalize it, but I couldn't because I knew it was wrong," she testified.
The woman was one of two former patients to testify during the first day of Poon's sexual assault trial
at Regina Court of Queen's Bench on Tuesday. Poon is charged with six counts of sexual assault and
three breaches. All of the sexual assault charges relate to former patients.
The first witness, now 21, testified that she went to the walk-in clinic at the Golden Mile Mall in
February 2008, and saw Poon because she was concerned about a lump in her breast and a possible
vaginal infection.
The woman said Poon asked inappropriate questions early in the examination -- including whether or
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Former patients detail exams at doctor's sex assault trial
28/06/10 4:43 PM
not she had orgasms -- and then told her that she would have to have a full examination.
The woman testified that she changed into a paper gown, and that Poon began a breast examination
during which he repeatedly rubbed, pinched and touched her nipples and breasts. The woman said
Poon also laid his head on her breasts, telling her he wanted to listen to her heartbeat.
"He told me to relax, and just to smell his aftershave . . . and that would relax me," she said.
The woman said Poon rubbed her clitoris, repeatedly inserted his fingers in her vagina and would at
times touch her breasts while simultaneously touching her pelvic area. She testified he didn't wear
rubber gloves or use any equipment, and didn't take any swabs or samples.
The woman told court she wanted it to stop, but was afraid to say anything.
"I didn't want to make him mad," she said. "He was being aggressive already and I didn't want to
make it worse."
She said he told her to come back the following week for more "stimulus response," and told her to
tell her friends to go to him as well.
The woman called a sexual assault crisis line that night, and filed a police report the next morning.
Another woman, who is now 24, testified she saw Poon in early February 2008 for an eye infection,
then talked to him about some other symptoms she was having -- such as headaches and dizziness -
- which she thought may have been related to a recent broken engagement.
She said Poon seemed very concerned about her broken engagement, and repeatedly told her she
was beautiful "inside and out." She said he ordered some tests, and told her to come back the next
evening for the results. She told court Poon hugged her as she left his office.
"I thought he was just a really compassionate doctor, and because he has that kind of authenticity I
didn't really think anything of it," she said.
The woman testified that, when she went to the clinic the next evening, Poon asked to do a full
physical examination. She told court she had never had a full examination before.
She said the breast examination felt like it was a normal procedure at first, but soon became invasive
and uncomfortable for her as he began talking to her about personal life and telling her repeatedly
that she was beautiful. She testified he also grabbed her hands and kissed one of them twice.
The woman said the breast examination turned into something that seemed more like "relaxation
rubbing," and that Poon told her that her breasts were easy to examine because they were firm, and
began touching and rubbing her vagina while simultaneously massaging her breasts. She said Poon
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Former patients detail exams at doctor's sex assault trial
28/06/10 4:43 PM
told her to relax, even to go to sleep and at one point put his hands over her eyes.
"It didn't feel like an exam anymore," she said.
The woman testified she didn't know how to get out of the situation, and felt "frozen."
"I am not the type of person that lets someone invade me like this," she told court.
She said he stopped after she twice asked him to.
The woman will continue her testimony this morning.
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