What happened during the acquittal of Jeffrey Sloka?

A former neurologist learned his fate in court today. CTV’s Krista Simpson reports.

A former neurologist accused of sexually assaulting 48 of his female patients has been acquitted.

Justice Craig Parry ruled that he is satisfied there was a valid medical reason for examinations Jeffrey Sloka performed at his Kitchener clinic.

The verdict comes nine years after the first complaints were made about the doctor to Ontario’s regulatory body, and following a four-and-a-half year criminal trial.

The complainants in the case were all female patients who were seen at Sloka’s urgent neurology clinic between 2010 and 2017.

In court, they described receiving vaginal exams, breast exams or exams of other intimate areas during appointments for neurological concerns.

Sloka’s medical license was revoked in 2019 by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) after a no contest plea to the allegations laid out in a disciplinary hearing.

In 2019, the Waterloo Regional Police Service laid the first series of charges of sexual assault.

The criminal trial began in September 2021. The Crown made the case that Sloka used medical examination as a ruse to gain access to the bodies of female patients for sexual purposes.

The defense said Sloka had a valid medical justification for his investigations, examinations and treatments.

After listening to more than 160 days of evidence, and going through thousands of pages of written submissions from the Crown and defense, as well as verbal arguments in court, Justice Craig Parry reached his verdict. The written decision was 1,002 pages long.

Parry said if he read it in its entirety in court, it would likely take weeks.

Instead, he delivered the summary to a packed courtroom on Friday morning, a process that took about twenty minutes.

“I have concluded that on each count the Crown has failed to prove that Dr. Sloka used medical examinations as a ruse to gain access to the bodies of his female patients,” Parry said.

Parry largely rejected the expert testimony of Dr. Vera Bril, who told court in her opinion, the exams Sloka did aren’t typically done by neurologists.

“Having considered Dr. Bril’s evidence in the context of the totality of the evidence, I have found it incapable of establishing that Dr. Sloka operated outside the permissible scope of his neurological practice,” Parry said.

As for the women who testified, Parry said he found their evidence unreliable.

“After considering the evidence of each complainant, I have concluded that, to varying degrees, each provided unreliable evidence. With many of them, their memory, perceptions, and testimony were tainted by what they saw in media or CPSO publications. Some also provided evidence that lacked credibility. Some were also deliberately dishonest with the court,” he said.

Parry concluded, “On each count, the totality of the evidence satisfies me that each patient consented to and participated in medical examinations.”

After the judge announced he had acquitted Sloka on all counts, some of the women in the courtroom began crying. A number got up and walked out. One called out “shameful, shameful” as she left.

Sloka’s lawyers react

Outside the courthouse, Sloka’s legal team told reporters that their client is relieved and happy with the decision.

“Dr. Sloka will not be speaking to the media. But he wants me to, on his behalf, let everyone know that all he ever wanted out of this was a fair trial. And he got a fair trial, and the community got a fair trial,” said lawyer David Humphrey.

Humphrey said throughout this process Sloka has had the support of his family and friends, and some of his other patients.

In spite of the acquittal, Sloka did not leave the courtroom through the main entrance.

One person, unhappy with the verdict, was waiting outside the doors, wanting him to see her as he left.

When asked why Sloka left from another door, Humphrey said, “Given the emotions involved by some, it only makes sense that security took steps that he didn’t have to be in close quarters with some people who are very upset with the verdict today.”

Sexual Assault Support Centre reacts

Sara Casselman, executive director of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, was in the courtroom as the verdict was read out.

“I saw women stand up en masse and walk out, overcome, and it was actually horrific to see,” she told CTV News outside the courthouse.

Casselman said the Sexual Assault Support Centre is there for those finding the decision difficult.

“The court doesn’t work on a balance of probabilities, it works beyond a reasonable doubt. So, it’s really important that our community knows that not guilty does not mean not guilty of causing harm, and it doesn’t mean innocent.”

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region offers a 24 hour support line at 519-741-8633.