Gay Conversion Therapist Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Male Patients for ‘Cure’

Melvyn Iscove Believes Homosexuality is a ‘Sexual Disorder that can be Overcome’

A Toronto psychiatrist who believes homosexuality is a sexual disorder has been found guilty by Ontario’s medical regulator of sexually abusing two of his male patients.

“Dr. Melvyn Iscove, 72, was described in a decision of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s discipline committee as having a ‘special interest in the treatment of patients with problems related to homosexuality,’” the Toronto Star reported Friday.

“He also engaged in mutual masturbation and oral sex with two male patients on different occasions during therapy sessions,” they noted, “and once had anal intercourse with one of them in his office, the committee found.”

The five-member discipline panel revealed in its decision this week that “neither complainant described any emotional or romantic aspects of the sexual activity with Dr. Iscove, and both said that at some point, they thought that the sexual activity was part of the therapy and an attempt to cure them of homosexuality by engaging in the acts, rather than fantasizing about them.”

The Star continued:

As for Iscove, he denied the sexual abuse allegations, which mostly date back to the 1990s and early 2000s. His license was immediately suspended after the guilty findings pending a penalty hearing that has yet to be scheduled.

During a penalty hearing, doctors found to have had sex with a patient automatically lose their license.

“We’re both very disappointed with the result, obviously,” said Iscove’s lawyer, Alfred Kwinter. “Dr. Iscove has always denied the allegations, he continues to do so, and he’s seriously considering an appeal.”

The doctor still faces a separate discipline hearing for an allegation of “improper conduct in a public men’s washroom,” according to his profile on the College of Physicians’ online register.

Conversion therapy is the long-discredited and dangerous practice of seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, “formerly” supported by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Homosexuality was finally removed from the World Health Organization’s list of mental illnesses in 1992.