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Ismail Taher, Edmonton-area doctor convicted of sex assault, quits practice

A month after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a female patient, Edmonton doctor Ismail Taher has voluntarily stopped practising medicine.

In April Taher was found guilty of groping a woman, who is now 20, during a routine medicentre visit in Sherwood Park in August 2013.

The woman, who cannot be identified, was concerned about a tattoo on her hip and a nose piercing. She said Taher touched her buttock, massaged her breast and then called her beautiful.

Taher was sentenced to 12 months probation and told to pay $500 in restitution last week.

Although Taher is no longer practicing, he remains a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

"We can't force somebody to unpay their membership," said college spokesperson, Kelly Eby. "So he's not working; he's not practicing; he's not seeing patients; there is no risk to the public. He has voluntarily withdrawn."

Following April's decision, the college allowed Taher to continue practice medicine and accepting new patients but stipulated he required a chaperone while interviewing or examining any female patient under the age of 16.

"We have the option of when a physician is convicted in criminal court of either suspending that physician or the physician can voluntarily withdraw, but we wait until the end of any criminal court case to do our full investigation," said Eby.

Taher will return to court in November to face two counts of sexual assault against two other women.