Manitoba dentist who waived fees after starting sexual relationship with patient fined $30K
Gary Levine pleaded guilty to professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming member of dental association
A retired Manitoba dentist must pay a $30,000 fine after he admitted to having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient whose dental service fees he later waived.
Gary Levine pleaded guilty to professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a member before a Manitoba Dental Association panel in April, says a summary in the association's summer bulletin.
He was given a reprimand and a $30,000 fine for the costs of the association's hearing and investigation, and is prohibited from registering as a member of the association for six months.
Levine, who retired from dentistry in 2024, was charged after a former patient filed a complaint against him with the association, saying the dentist was involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with her, the decision summary says.
The patient first met Levine when she took her son to his office for dental correction in 2005.
After he learned that the patient was a single mother, Levine proposed a payment plan for her and her two sons to get braces, the summary says. She became a regular patient of his for five years, receiving some additional services from him after that.
The dentist began to flirt with the patient, and that behaviour progressed to sexual encounters and intercourse, which took place at Levine's home and at his clinic, the summary says.
"After their sexual relationship started, Dr. Levine stopped charging the patient fees for dental services," the summary says.
A dental association panel ruled that Levine violated professional boundaries by pursuing and engaging in sexual relations with the patient, sexually harassing the patient and waiving fee payments for dental services during the course of their sexual relationship, the summary says.
Levine had not faced prior disciplinary action and was co-operative during the process, the association's panel said. However, they also said his violations took place over an extended period of time and involved a financially vulnerable patient.
"Carrying on a sexual relationship at the clinic and the subsequent waiver of fees was deemed entirely unacceptable," the summary says.
If Levine chooses to seek registration with the association after his six-month ban, he will need a chaperone present for any interactions with female patients and will be required to take an educational course on how to maintain professional boundaries with patients.