When Healing Hands Cross Boundaries: The Disturbing Fall of Dr. Suman Khulbe

In every society, doctors stand as symbols of trust, compassion, and responsibility. Their role is not limited to prescribing medicines or conducting examinations; they are custodians of one of the most sacred human bonds i.e. the bond of care. This bond is so delicate that a single breach can shake the very foundation of the medical profession. The recent revocation of the medical licence of Indian-origin physician Dr. Suman Khulbe by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has raised unsettling questions about professional boundaries, ethics, and the responsibilities that come with the privilege of being a doctor. The story is not only about an individual but about the collective expectations of society from those who dedicate their lives to healing.

Dr. Khulbe, who began her career as a family physician in 2001 and later moved to a private holistic practice in 2018, was accused of actions that stand in contrast to the principles of medical ethics. The disciplinary tribunal found her guilty of sexual abuse and professional misconduct involving patients, leading to the suspension and eventual revocation of her licence effective August 23, 2025. The allegations paint a troubling picture of blurred boundaries, personal entanglements, and exploitation of the inherent vulnerability present in the doctor-patient relationship. The case is a reminder of how fragile the lines between care and misconduct can become if vigilance is lost.

The tribunal’s findings revealed that Dr. Khulbe engaged in sexual activity with a male patient, a gym trainer who initially visited her for vitamin therapy in 2015. What started as a professional relationship reportedly shifted into physical therapy and, later, into sexual encounters. The patient described acts including kissing, oral sex, and manual stimulation, many of which took place while he was under the influence of procaine, a local anaesthetic administered by the physician. He recounted feeling euphoric, disoriented, and unable to fully control his decisions, raising serious questions about the ethical responsibilities of a doctor administering substances that impair judgment. The tribunal noted that this was not an isolated lapse but part of a troubling pattern in which professional boundaries were disregarded.

What makes the situation more concerning is the evidence that Dr. Khulbe blurred her professional role beyond physical intimacy. She reportedly involved the same patient in discussions about potential business ventures and held social gatherings at her clinic where alcohol was served. This erosion of professional distance extended to other patients as well, where she allegedly professed love and pursued business partnerships, merging the roles of doctor, friend, social companion, and entrepreneur. In medicine, such entanglements are not minor missteps; they are dangerous collapses of a system designed to protect patients from harm and manipulation. The CPSO has long held a strict zero-tolerance policy toward sexual relations between doctors and patients, regardless of consent, precisely because the power imbalance inherent in this relationship makes true consent questionable.

Dr. Khulbe, however, has publicly denied many of the accusations, stating that crucial facts were omitted during the hearing. She acknowledged a consensual relationship with the gym trainer but rejected the characterization of her actions as abusive. In her view, the disciplinary proceedings overlooked details that could have changed the narrative, and she has declared her intention to appeal the ruling. She further expressed that the hearing came at a great financial and emotional cost to her and her family, suggesting that she sees herself as being unfairly targeted. The appeal process may or may not shift the outcome, but the broader conversation about ethics in medicine is larger than any individual case.

This case is a lens through which we must re-examine the importance of professional boundaries. In the modern medical world, patients often arrive at clinics not just for physical ailments but for emotional reassurance. They carry vulnerabilities including fears of illness, dependence on treatment and trust in expertise that place the physician in a position of immense influence. When a doctor forgets that patients are not friends, companions, or business partners but individuals seeking care, the profession risks losing the moral authority it has built over centuries. Doctors are trained not merely to heal the body but to maintain dignity and respect for every patient, and any breach of this principle endangers both the patient and the credibility of the entire medical fraternity.

The tribunal described in clear terms that Dr. Khulbe failed to see her patients strictly as patients. She crossed lines repeatedly, treating them as companions for athletic activities, participants in her social circle, and partners in business. In doing so, she ignored the strict codes of conduct that exist not to limit doctors but to protect patients. For healthcare professionals, this is a cautionary tale: even the appearance of impropriety can destroy careers built over decades. A lapse in judgment, when amplified by the inherent power dynamics of healthcare, can lead to allegations of abuse, disciplinary hearings, and the irreversible loss of professional standing.

It is also worth noting the context of her medical practice. After years as a family physician, Dr. Khulbe transitioned into a private practice focusing on regenerative medicine, anti-ageing therapies, and peptide treatments i.e. fields that often operate in the less-regulated margins of healthcare. Such practices can sometimes blur the lines between clinical medicine and lifestyle services, making it even more critical for physicians in these areas to uphold ethical standards without compromise. The integration of social gatherings, alcohol, and business propositions into the clinical environment described in the tribunal’s findings reflects how easily a lack of boundaries can spiral into professional ruin.

Beyond the specifics of this case, the broader discussion must focus on how medical professionals can guard themselves against such pitfalls. Continuous medical education should not be confined to clinical skills but must emphasize the importance of ethics, boundaries, and communication. Institutions must create environments where doctors are reminded regularly that their role comes with unique responsibilities. Peer groups, mentors, and professional organizations must foster dialogue about the challenges of maintaining boundaries in a world where patients often seek personal connections with their doctors. It is not about denying warmth or compassion but about ensuring that kindness does not slip into territory that compromises professional responsibility.

The story of Dr. Suman Khulbe is a reminder that the fall of a doctor is never a personal tragedy alone. It reverberates through the profession, shakes public trust, and forces uncomfortable conversations about where medicine ends and misconduct begins. For doctors who dedicate their lives to healing, the message is clear: the privilege of trust carries with it an unyielding duty to protect, respect, and never exploit. For patients, it is a call to remain vigilant and to speak out when lines are crossed. And for society, it is a reminder that medicine, despite all its advances, still rests upon the timeless principles of dignity, respect, and humanity.

In the end, whether Dr. Khulbe’s appeal succeeds or not, her case will remain etched in medical discourse as an example of what happens when boundaries collapse. It is a story of ambition overshadowed by controversy, of a career that shifted from healing to holistic ventures and then to disciplinary hearings. But most importantly, it is a story that reaffirms the absolute need for ethical clarity in medicine. The trust between a doctor and patient is sacred, and once it is broken, it rarely heals. This case, with all its complexities, leaves behind a single, unshakable truth that in the practice of medicine, trust is everything, and without it, there can be no healing.

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