If you or someone you know needs resources or support related to sexual violence, contact the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 hotline at 800-871-7741.
A Bangor doctor accused of sexual assault had his osteopathic medicine license permantly suspended.
Michael Gilmore, a now-former doctor who owns and operates Maine Functional Medicine, signed a consent agreement Aug. 8 and permanently gave up his license to practice osteopathic medicine in Maine.
He signed the agreement three weeks before he was scheduled for a second hearing before the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure.
Gilmore admitted the board could have found a “preponderance” of evidence for the allegation that he sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman during an appointment.
The woman alleged Gilmore did an inappropriate physical examination and tried to sexually stimulate her during the March 11 appointment, according to the consent agreement with the board. The Bangor Daily News does not typically name sexual assault victims without their permission.
Gilmore “strongly disputed” the allegations, saying the examination was medically necessary and within his scope of practice, the consent agreement said. He testified before the commission on July 11.
There were 21 grounds for disciplinary action related to Gilmore’s treatment of the patient and his response to the commission.
The woman and her grandmother, who accompanied her to the appointment but was not in the room during the assault, also testified, according to the 415-page transcript.
During the appointment, Gilmore said the woman brought up her lack of libido and other conversations around her sex life. The woman testified she did not initiate the conversation and didn’t know what a libido was until Gilmore explained it in the conversation.
While trying to determine what was causing various medical symptoms, Gilmore said he needed to do a vaginal examination. Before the exam he didn’t offer her a gown or modesty drape, she said. He claimed she “whipped” off her pants before he had the chance to do so.
The assault happened during the vaginal examination, when Gilmore touched her more than medically necessary and also asked her inappropriate questions, the woman testified.
During the June hearing, the commission ran out of time to hear additional testimony and set a second hearing for Aug. 28. The hearing was canceled after Gilmore signed the consent agreement.
Gilmore became licensed in osteopathic medicine in Maine in 2003. He opened Maine Functional Medicine in 2011 and saw adult patients as a primary care physician by referral or for consults, and also saw children for consults, according to its website.
The practice will be closing soon or changing format, a banner across the top of the website said.
