Latest news with #Parajian
Hamilton Spectator
11-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Tribunal orders Toronto doctor's license revoked following harassment of girls
TORONTO - A Toronto doctor has had his medical license revoked after he pleaded guilty to criminal harassment of more than a dozen girls and admitted to public masturbation. A tribunal at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario found the facts admitted by Armen Parajian established professional misconduct and were grounds enough for a reprimand and to have his certification of registration revoked in March. The tribunal decision, released last week, says Parajian pleaded guilty in criminal court to harassing 13 female victims over a six-month period in the city's Beaches neighbourhood starting in November 2020. The ruling cites an agreed statement of fact court heard in 2021 that said Parajian would drive slowly near the girls in his white Jeep, noting 12 of the victims were between the ages of 10 and 15. On more than one occasion, it appeared to the victims that he was pretending to use his phone so he could record or photograph them, the statement of fact said. As a result, the victims reasonably feared for their safety based on their perception of the accused's conduct,' the statement reads. '... the accused was reckless as to whether his conduct of driving slowly in the vicinity of the victims would cause them to feel harassed. The tribunal ruling said Parajian, a thoracic surgeon, also admitted to masturbating in the passenger seat of his vehicle while parked on a residential street, as witnessed by an adult victim. It also noted that for about two years before the specified events, there were numerous reports of indecent exposure by a man in a white Jeep. A victim impact statement from a mother said that his actions have left her feeling stressed, sad and scared for the safety of her children and her community, and that she now worries when she has to take her child to a new doctor. 'I used to have a certain level of trust and respect for that physician simply because they were a medical professional. Now, that pre-established trust is gone,' the statement reads. 'I am anxious and skeptical of anyone who treats my children for the first time.' In another impact statement, parents wrote how their daughter kept having to look over her shoulder in the community, always on high alert. Character letters in support of Parajian, including from his wife and two friends, emphasized his kindness and compassion, according to the tribunal filings. For the criminal charges, Parajian was sentenced to probation for rehabilitation and ongoing community supervision for three years, which he has since completed. 'Dr. Parajian has been found guilty of a criminal offence relevant to his suitability to practise and his conduct would be reasonably regarded by registrants as disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional,' the tribunal wrote in its findings. 'Patients come to physicians for protection and healing. The publicity around these incidents has diminished the public's confidence that any physician they visit will care for them and they will be safe in their vulnerable relationships with them. Revocation will help maintain that confidence.' The documents show Parajian and the College jointly submitted that the penalty for his actions should be revocation of his registration. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2025.
Toronto Sun
11-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Tribunal orders Toronto doctor's licence revoked after young girls harassed
Published May 11, 2025 • 1 minute read Getty Images TORONTO — A tribunal has revoked a Toronto doctor's medical licence after he pleaded guilty to criminal harassment of 12 girls and admitted to public masturbation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario tribunal found the facts admitted by Armen Parajian were grounds enough for a reprimand and to have his certification of registration revoked in March. Court documents released last week say Parajian pleaded guilty in criminal court to harassing 13 female victims over a six-month period in the city's Beaches neighbourhood starting in November 2020. The documents say Parajian would drive slowly near the girls in his Jeep, noting 12 of the victims were between ages 10 and 15. Recommended video It says Parajian, a thoracic surgeon, also admitted to masturbating in the passenger seat of his vehicle while parked on the street. A victim impact statement from a mother said that his actions have left her feeling stressed, sad and scared for the safety of her children and her community, and that her trust in the medical profession has also been shaken. The documents show Parajian and the College jointly submitted that the penalty for his actions should be revocation of his registration. Sports Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Relationships Editorial Cartoons
Toronto Sun
09-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: Oshawa thoracic surgeon loses licence over creepy crime in Beach
Armen Parajian was stripped of his licence to practise medicine by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal. Photo by Armen Parajian What a crime against the cancer patients he could have saved. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But due to his sick acts, Oshawa thoracic surgeon Dr. Armen Parajian has been rightly stripped of his licence to practise medicine. For two years, a man behind the wheel of a white Jeep terrified residents in the Beach, with Toronto Police issuing repeated warnings about a driver who would expose himself or follow young girls. In a shocking development, Parajian, then 37, was arrested in 2021 and charged with two counts of committing an indecent act, four counts of harassment by repeatedly following another person and eight counts of exposing genitals to a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose. After Parajian's arrest, Lakeridge Health said they were temporarily reassigning the surgeon's patients to other doctors. He ultimately pleaded guilty to just the criminal harassment of 13 victims — all but one were girls between 10 and 15 — by driving his white Jeep slowly by them over a six-month period between November 2020 and May 2021 in the area of Blantyre Park in southwest Scarborough. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to the agreed statement of facts, ' On more than one occasion it appeared to the victims that he was pretending to use his phone to record or photograph them when he stopped near them. The accused was completely unknown to the victims. Throughout these encounters, it appeared to the victims that the accused was following or watching them. As a result, the victims reasonably feared for their safety based on their perception of the accused's conduct.' Fourteen other charges were withdrawn and Parajian was given a suspended sentence with three years probation — which he's completed. While he got off easy in the Ontario Court of Justice, the surgeon received a much tougher prescription from the medical regulator. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Before the College of Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal, Parajian admitted to the criminal harassment as well as more troubling behaviour. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He admitted that nine days before his arrest, he parked his Jeep on a residential street in the Beach, moved to the passenger seat and masturbated with the window open. An adult neighbour saw him from her home and rushed to confront him before an approaching group of girls could see what he was doing. He pulled up his pants and said he was just on the phone, the ruling stated, before driving away. The tribunal found Parajian guilty of professional misconduct. ' While they took place outside the practice of medicine, Dr. Parajian's actions affect patients' ability to confide in and trust Dr. Parajian, as well as the reputation of the profession.' The first victim wrote about how Parajian's actions left her feeling stressed, sad and scared for the safety of her children and her community. 'I used to have a certain level of trust and respect for that physician simply because they were a medical professional. Now, that pre-established trust is gone.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the second victim impact statement, parents wrote their 'daughter has spent the last 2.5 years looking over her shoulder whenever she is out in our community, always on high alert.' Read More The tribunal noted that Parajian admitted his misconduct, sparing a hearing, has shown insight and realizes the seriousness of his actions. 'The character letters speak strongly of Dr. Parajian's commitment as a physician and to the fact that this conduct was an aberration. Through counselling, Dr. Parajian continues to address the issues that led to his actions,' the panel wrote. Losing his licence wasn't automatic — as it is for sexual assault of a patient — but both the doctor and the tribunal agreed it was the right penalty under the circumstances. 'Patients come to physicians for protection and healing. The publicity around these incidents has diminished the public's confidence that any physician they visit will care for them and they will be safe in their vulnerable relationships with them. Revocation will help maintain that confidence,' the panel concluded. According to his website, Parajian is a thoracic surgeon practicing since 2017 and at Lakeridge Health, focused on treating patients with lung and esophageal cancer. What a waste. mmandel@ NBA Columnists Columnists Canada Canada
