Verdict expected Friday at the sexual assault trial of a former Kitchener, Ont. neurologist

A verdict is expected Friday for Jeffery Sloka, a former neurologist accused of inappropriately touching dozens of female patients. CTV’s Krista Simpson reports

Warning: This story references allegations of sexual assault.

A verdict is expected Friday at the trial of Jeffrey Sloka, the former Kitchener, Ont. neurologist charged with 48 counts of sexual assault involving his female patients.

It’s believed to be one of the largest cases of its kind in the province’s history.

At one point, Sloka faced 77 charges stemming from complaints by patients who consulted his private practice between January 2010 and July 2017. Some of those charges were later withdrawn at the request of the Crown. By the time his trial ended, in March 2026, the total had dropped to 48 counts of sexual assault.

Sloka, who also goes by the first name Scott, was accused with improperly draping his clients, touching their breasts and performing invasive pelvic and rectal exams.

The Crown argued Sloka’s motive was sexual, while the defence insisted there was a medical purpose for his actions.

History of the case

Restrictions were placed on Sloka’s practice in September 2017 after two patients filed complaints with the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons. They said signs had to be posted throughout Sloka’s office that indicated he could not be left alone with patients.

In April 2019, his medical license was revoked.

Sloka was arrested in September 2019 and initially charged with 34 counts of sexual assault.

• TIMELINE: The case against Jeffrey Sloka

By February 2020, that number had risen to 69. Another eight were laid in June 2021.

Sloka pleaded not guilty to 63 charges when his trial got underway in September 2021.

The first patient who took the stand said she sought out Sloka’s medical opinion after experiencing a blackout and, during her appointment, he performed a vaginal exam.

“It is far outside our standard of practice,” neurologist Dr. Vera Bril later testified. “Far, far outside.”

At that point in the trial, the number of charges against Sloka had dropped to 50.

“I can’t think, in recent time, where we have seen so many of those charges in our country,” Nick Cake, a London-based criminal defence lawyer who was not involved in Sloka’s case, told CTV News.

A four-and-a-half-year trial is also unusual, he noted, but the number of complainants may have been a major factor.

“There’s going to be an impact that this decision has on them, and there’s going to be an impact that this decision has on the accused individual as well, where we could be talking about taking away his liberty and locking him in a cage for an extended period of time,” Cake said. “So, ultimately, there needs to be care and the time needs to be taken.”

In August 2023, the former neurologist took the stand in his own defence. Sloka addressed every complaint filed against him over a three-week period. He frequently disagreed with the testimony from former patients, denied some incidents ever happened, or offered a medical explanation for why he performed certain exams.

“I’ve certainly not seen anything like this in our community before”

The verdict will be closely watched by staff at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, including executive director Sara Casselman.

“I’ve been doing this work for about 24 years, and I’ve certainly not seen anything like this in our community before.”

She said the community has waited a long time for the verdict and hoped the end of the court case would help all those involved.

“I believe that this moment is going to be significant,” Casselman said. “Hopefully it allows for some closure, at least of this chapter of the trial, where folks can just move on and focus on their healing and their wellness.”

She planned to be in the courtroom for the verdict and shared a message for the women who testified against the doctor they once trusted: “There are folks in the community that care about you, that want to wrap you in care.”

The Sexual Assault Support Centre was also planning a gathering on Friday, May 1 where those impacted by the case could connect.

It’s something that could not happen during the course of the trial, to avoid suggestions that complainants were colluding.

Anyone who wants to attend is encouraged to RSVP at Sloka Verdict - Sexual Assault Support Centre Waterloo Region

Victims of sexual assault can contact the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region’s 24-hour support line at 519-741-8633.