Dr. Nasreen Roberts: Queen's University Child Psychiatrist Convicted of Sexually Assaulting a Teenage Patient

Dr. Nasreen Roberts was, until 2021, a child and adolescent psychiatrist practising at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and affiliated with Queen's University, where she served as division chair for child psychiatry from 2009 to 2015.

Charges from a Former Life in Calgary

Before moving to Kingston, Roberts had practised psychiatry in Calgary at the Foothills Medical Centre. In December 2020, the RCMP charged her with historic sexual assault and sexual exploitation relating to a former patient she had counselled as a youth for self-esteem issues; the relationship became sexual after the patient turned 18, while Roberts — then in her mid-40s and married — continued the relationship for several years, with the conduct dating to between 1994 and 1998. Roberts relinquished her CPSO membership and authorization to practise in Ontario on January 30, 2021, shortly after the allegation became known to Queen's University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Both institutions said in a joint statement that they had conducted a confidential internal review and were not aware of any complaints raised about Roberts during her time at either institution.

In the wake of the charges becoming public, several former patients who had no allegations of sexual misconduct against Roberts came forward describing what they called traumatizing experiences in her care, saying the psychiatric treatment they received left some of them worse off and made them reluctant to seek further treatment.

Guilty Plea

In November 2021, Roberts pleaded guilty in a Calgary provincial court to a charge of sexual assault connected to the relationship with her former patient. Judge John Bascom, in sentencing her to a period of house arrest with a curfew, told the court her conduct represented "the highest level of a breach of trust." Roberts was 73 years old at the time of sentencing.

Note: this page reflects reporting as of the guilty plea and sentencing in late 2021. It does not reflect any subsequent developments that may not yet be publicly reported.

Timeline

• 1994–1998Sexual relationship begins with a former patient shortly after he turns 18, while Roberts practises at Calgary's Foothills Medical Centre.
• 2009–2015Serves as division chair for child psychiatry at Queen's University.
• Dec 2020RCMP charges Roberts with historic sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
• Jan 30, 2021Relinquishes her CPSO membership and authorization to practise medicine in Ontario.
• Nov 2021Pleads guilty to sexual assault in Calgary provincial court; sentenced to house arrest with a curfew.