RCDSO Clarifies Decision to Suspend Dentist Facing Sexual Assault Charges

Pete Fisher
4 hours ago
• Categories: Police Blotter

(Durham Regional Police handout)

The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) has clarified its decision to suspend the licence of a dentist facing sexual assault charges in both Cobourg and Durham Region.

Dr. Sunilkumar Patel, 38, of Ajax, was charged by the Cobourg Police Service on July 6, 2026, with one count of sexual assault. At the time, Patel was permitted to continue practising under strict conditions that had been in place since he was charged by Durham Regional Police in 2024 with two counts of sexual assault.

On July 10, four days after the Cobourg charge was laid, the RCDSO’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee imposed an interim suspension of Patel’s certificate of registration.

Following an earlier report by Today’s Northumberland, the RCDSO contacted the publication to clarify that it did not reverse an initial decision not to suspend Patel immediately after the Cobourg charge. Instead, the College said it first had to gather sufficient information before the committee could make its determination.

RCDSO spokesperson Lesley Byrne said the College follows a legislated process before imposing an interim suspension.

“The College needs to gather adequate and appropriate information from the time when we learn of charges and based on our legislative obligations. The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee then makes decisions.”

According to the RCDSO’s public register, Patel has been facing two counts of sexual assault stemming from criminal charges laid in Oshawa on July 24, 2024. Those charges remain before the courts.

The public register also shows Patel continued practising under a series of voluntary undertakings and practice restrictions while those criminal proceedings were ongoing.

Asked why Patel was allowed to continue practising after the 2024 charges but was suspended following the Cobourg charge, Byrne said each decision is based on the information available to the committee at the time.

“The committee makes decisions based on the information before it at that time and within the legislative requirements. Neither the criminal investigation nor the regulatory one have been completed in regard to the 2024 charges.”

Patel’s licence remained active under the existing restrictions for four days after the Cobourg charge was laid before the interim suspension took effect on July 10.

Today’s Northumberland also asked whether Patel had been practising during that four-day period.

Byrne responded: “As noted on the public register, the strict practice conditions that were in place since 2024 remained so until the Committee-imposed suspension took effect on July 10.”

She added that the College’s authority is governed by provincial legislation and that it cannot act outside the powers granted to it.

“By way of context, all of our authority and powers are granted by the legislation, and we cannot act outside of those processes and powers that are granted to us, including the ability to impose an interim order to suspend a license to practice. There is also the matter of the confidential process of the investigation, so we are limited in what we can say publicly, while that process is underway.”

The criminal charges against Patel have not been proven in court. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Exclusive – Cobourg Dentist Charged with Sexual Assault Was Already Facing Similar Charges in Durham

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