CPSA revokes Dr. Barry Wollach’s license

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta has revoked the license to practice of a Calgary doctor who was convicted of sexual assault in 2019.

Dr. Barry Wollach, an anesthesiologist, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in October 2019 for sexually abusing an acquaintance in 2016.

Wollach, who has not practiced medicine in Alberta since January 2019, had attempted to appeal his criminal conviction, but his appeal was rejected by the Alberta Court of Appeal in 2022.

The CPSA has now announced that he has “exhausted his options” and that it is therefore time to permanently revoke his licence.

“Sexual assault on a person is reprehensible conduct that is inconsistent with the public’s expectations of an ethical physician,” the court wrote in its May 1 decision.

“Such conduct cannot be tolerated in a professional who holds a unique and highly sensitive position of trust with the public and therefore justifies the College’s most severe sanction.”

At the hearing, Wollach stated that he was “retired” and had “no intention of practicing medicine in the future.”

The court revoked his authorization and ordered him to pay hearing costs of $8,500.