Trial opens for 82-year-old dentist accused of assaulting child patients decades ago

The trial of an 82-year-old Halifax dentist accused of assaulting child patients decades ago began with gripping testimony from a woman who claims he slapped her across the face during a dental procedure when she was just eight or nine years old.

The now 46-year-old woman recounted her experience in Halifax provincial court, detailing how she was referred to Dr. Errol Gaum for a special procedure that led to him becoming agitated when she couldn’t sit still. She tearfully told the court that Gaum told her to “shut up” as she cried, and then proceeded to slap her in the face.

“I just remember an open hand on the side of my face, and it hurt,” she recalled.

Gaum, whose dentistry license was suspended in 2020 following allegations of mistreatment, has pleaded not guilty to assault charges involving six complainants dating back to the 1980s and 1970s. One of the complainants had their charges dismissed on the first day of the trial.

The woman’s identity, along with that of other alleged victims, is protected by a publication ban due to their age at the time of the alleged offenses. She revealed that she informed her parents about the incident after they left the office, and has since confided in friends, her husband, and two other dentists over the years.

Upon seeing Gaum’s name in a news story in 2020, she said she was “100 per cent” certain that he was the dentist who had assaulted her. She emphasized that his name had stayed with her throughout the years.

During cross-examination, the woman admitted to posting about Gaum on Facebook in November 2020, shortly before going to the police. However, she promptly removed the post to avoid being swept up in the social media frenzy surrounding the case.

The prosecution indicated that social media, including a Facebook group dedicated to Gaum, may play a role in the trial. It is expected that all the complainants will testify that they came forward to the police after seeing posts online about the dentist.

Defense lawyer Nick Fitch hinted that the defense may explore the possibility of witnesses fabricating or altering their stories after being influenced by social media. The destruction of patient records from the time of the alleged incidents adds another layer of complexity to the case.

As the trial unfolds, the impact of social media and the credibility of witness testimonies will likely be closely scrutinized. The proceedings are set to continue on Friday as more witnesses take the stand.