Vancouver doctor charged with sexually assaulting teens: police

Vancouver police announced sexual assault charges against a Vancouver doctor and appealed for any additional victims to come forward.

Police in Vancouver say a 65-year-old doctor has been charged with sexually assaulting two teenage patients over a number of years, and investigators believe there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.

The Vancouver Police Department says it opened its investigation in March 2023 after a 17-year-old girl was reportedly assaulted by a doctor at a clinic in Chinatown over several years.

During that investigation, the department heard allegations that the same doctor had assaulted a 14-year-old girl visiting a medical clinic in neighbouring Burnaby years earlier.

Investigators gathered evidence and submitted their case to the B.C. Prosecution Service, which approved charges against Herman Hau Man Lee on Nov. 28, according to a statement Tuesday from the Vancouver police.

The department says Lee is now facing one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference related to alleged offences in Burnaby in December 2015.

He is also facing one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation for the offences that allegedly occurred in Vancouver between May 2018 and December 2022, police said.

Accused travelled to China

Lee, a Vancouver resident, was released on bail following the charges.

Police say he remains a practising doctor but, as a condition of his bail, he is not permitted to medically treat anyone under the age of 16 without another adult present.

Supt. Dale Weidman told reporters Tuesday that the lengthy police investigation was prolonged in part because Lee travelled to China.

“So the actual investigation didn’t take two years,” he said. “We had to wait.”

Police are asking anyone with similar allegations to come forward and speak with investigators.

“It is always a personal decision for anyone to come forward and report a sexual assault. We understand, for some, that decision may take time,” said Weidman in a statement.

“We want to assure everyone that if you do come forward, you will be met with care and compassion, and you will receive trauma-informed support throughout the investigative process.”

Leah Zille, executive director of the Treehouse Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, told reporters that her organization is ready to support victims and their parents during the investigation and court process.

“Everybody’s there to support that child or that youth and work on a plan that’s going to help them move forward in a healthy, productive way,” said Zille.

“Families don’t need to navigate these complex systems on their own.”

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If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling. 
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: [phone] (24/7)
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
• Trans Lifeline: [phone]
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.