Finding of unprofessional conduct against Dr. Ian Gebhardt overturned on appeal to CPSA Council

Edmonton, AB – A CPSA Hearing Tribunal’s decision to sanction Dr. Ian Gebhardt for unprofessional conduct was overturned by a CPSA Council Appeal Panel.

Dr. Gebhardt, a family physician from Medicine Hat, was found guilty in 2023 of inappropriate sexual touching of a patient. After a subsequent sanction hearing in 2024, Dr. Gebhardt was suspended from practice and required to undergo a practice assessment, cover two-thirds of associated costs and have a chaperone condition on his practice permit indefinitely.

Dr. Gebhardt appealed the Tribunal’s decision. CPSA’s Complaints Director cross-appealed the decision on sanction, on the grounds that it was insufficient considering the seriousness of Dr. Gebhardt’s conduct.

After hearing from both sides and reviewing the evidence, the Appeal Panel agreed with Dr. Gebhardt’s submission that the Hearing Tribunal’s findings were unreasonable and dismissed the cross-appeal from CPSA’s Complaints Director. The Panel overturned the ruling of unprofessional conduct against Dr. Gebhardt, along with all ordered sanctions.

Dr. Gebhardt’s practice permit is currently active with no conditions.

Resources (trigger/content warning: sexual abuse, sexual language):
CPSA Council Appeal Panel decision
CPSA Hearing Tribunal decision (sanction)
CPSA media release (April 2024)
CPSA Hearing Tribunal decision (merits)
CPSA media release (September 2023)