A judge on November 20 acquitted a retired dentist in Canada of physically assaulting four pediatric patients he treated in the 1970s and 1980s, according to a story published on November 20 in CBC News.
Judge Elizabeth Buckle acquitted Dr. Errol Gaum, 83, because she was concerned that his former patients’ memories may have been affected by news coverage and social media posts, though she believed his victims’ testimony. However, their testimony failed to persuade her that the dentist was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, according to the story.
Gaum, whose license was suspended in November 2020, pleaded not guilty to eight assault charges stemming from four patients.
Gaum, of Halifax, Canada, testified that he didn’t remember any of the patients who initiated the charges against him but said he frequently administered Mellaril (thioridazine hydrochloride), which he stated would cause kids to hallucinate. In 2005, drug maker Novartis withdrew Mellaril, which was widely used for the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis, worldwide due to an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Throughout the years, Gaum reportedly used excessive force, including slapping, pediatric patients. In one incident, a child’s face was hit against a sink. That incident required the child to get stitches. Some allegations discussed at trial dated back more than 50 years.
During the dentist’s 50-year career, Gaum had approximately 90,000 patient visits -- most of which were one-time appointments during which patients were sedated for specialty treatment -- at his practices.
