And yet, instead of continuing to serve Canadian children in need of his services, Dr Said recently returned to Israel without even a parting reference from the University of Ottawa, under whose aegis the dean of medicine, Dr. Jacques Bradwejn, dismissed him from his post after the same committee that had previously praised his work and teaching unanimously rejected Dr Said’s promotion. Dr. Said’s medical licence was automatically voided in 2010.

What terrible deed had Dr. Said done to merit such a reversal of professional fortune? Well, in 2009 Dr. Said asked to dinner – not once, mind, but twice – Dr. Melissa Forbes, a family practitioner in anesthesia on a three-month rotation through CHEO. When she declined, he withdrew his attentions, and that was the end of it from his point of view.

But it was not the end of it in Dr. Forbes’ estimation. In Dr. Forbes’ mind, that second invitation raised such concerns about the power imbalance between them that she initiated a complaint of sexual harassment against him. An internal investigation was automatically set in motion. Dr. Forbes, Dr. Said and six other doctors were interviewed. The College of Physicians and Surgeons also began an investigation. And that is how it came to pass that a second dinner invitation ruined a man’s career in Canada.