Anesthesiologist George Doodnaught, MD, insisted on hanging 3-foot-high sterile sheets above patients' chests to block their views of surgical activity. What his colleagues at North York General Hospital in Toronto, Canada, couldn't have known is that he may have used the dividers to mask his own sick fetish.

In a trial currently underway, Dr. Doodnaught faces 21 counts of sexual assault on patients ranging in age from 25 to 75 years for attacks that occurred between 2006 and 2010. He denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty.

According to a published report, an alleged victim who testified late last week said Dr. Doodnaught began tweaking her nipples and caressing her breasts while she was consciously sedated during a hysterectomy performed in February 2010. The victim said he "swirled" his tongue in her mouth and forced her to perform oral sex while moving his hips "very slowly, very rhythmically."

The woman was shocked by the alleged assault and complained to the hospital's staff before contacting local authorities. The resulting investigation uncovered 20 other women with similar tales of horror. One of those patients, a 66-year-old who underwent knee replacement surgery in January 2010, testified on Monday that Dr. Doodnaught fondled her breasts, kissed her and whispered "you asked for this" in her ear.

A local reporter's Twitter feed relayed the Tuesday testimony of Lynne Manalo-Layug, RN, an OR nurse who worked 3 cases when the alleged assaults took place, and Robert Brock, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who operated on 4 of the alleged victims, including the knee replacement patient.

Ms. Manalo-Layug told jurors Dr. Doodnaught was good at reassuring patients, sitting close to their heads and whispering support, and didn't notice anything untoward about his behavior.

Dr. Brock testified that he was "taken aback" and in disbelief when learning of the charges leveled against Dr. Doodnaught, whom he called "an anesthesiologist of choice" for many specialties and someone incapable of assaulting patients.

"We are deeply disturbed by these allegations and we take them very seriously," says Tim Rutledge, North York General's president and CEO, in a statement. "This matter raises important questions and we will all be looking for answers in the outcome of the trial." He says the hospital will comment further about specific allegations when the trial concludes.

Dr. Doodnaught's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Daniel Cook