Toronto Physician David Poon Confronts 69 Criminal Charges as Medical Licence is Suspended
Dr. David Poon, a Toronto-based physician who gained public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for his advocacy work, has had his medical licence suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The suspension comes as Poon now faces a staggering total of 69 charges related to alleged sex crimes, with Toronto Police continuing their examination of electronic devices seized from his Bay Street residence.
From Pandemic Advocate to Criminal Defendant
During the height of the pandemic, Dr. Poon was frequently featured in media coverage as he actively lobbied the Canadian government to reunite couples who had been separated by international border closures. His advocacy organization, Faces of Advocacy, brought him to Parliament and numerous media platforms as he fought travel restrictions that were keeping families apart.
Now, the 39-year-old physician finds himself in a dramatically different spotlight. Poon recently made a brief virtual court appearance from the Toronto South Detention Centre, where he has been held since his arrest on additional charges in December 2025. His legal troubles began in November 2025 with initial charges of possessing and accessing child pornography.
Charges Span Multiple Years and Jurisdictions
The new court documents reveal allegations dating back to 2009, when Poon was a medical student at the University of Alberta, from which he graduated in 2013. Among the 69 charges are multiple counts alleging that Poon administered "stupefying or overpowering" drugs to victims, committed sexual assaults, and recorded these incidents without consent.
The charges include two new counts of alleged sexual assault in Edmonton and several charges related to possessing child pornography. Authorities have indicated that these allegations are not believed to be connected to Poon's medical practice. When initially arrested and released on bail in November 2025, the College of Physicians and Surgeons imposed restrictions limiting his practice to adult patients only.
Licence Suspensions Across Provinces
Following the addition of 40 more charges in December 2025—including six counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault with a weapon, six counts of administering drugs to overcome resistance, 18 counts of voyeurism, and five counts of creating and possessing child pornography—the CPSO took the decisive step of suspending Poon's medical licence entirely.
Poon was also licensed to practice in Saskatchewan, where his certificate of registration has been suspended as well, effectively barring him from practicing medicine in both provinces while the legal proceedings continue.
Investigation Triggered by Technology Company Tip
According to reports from CBC News, the investigation into Dr. Poon began in the summer of 2025 after Google alerted authorities about illicit images that were allegedly uploaded to a Google Drive account registered in his name. This tip initiated the police investigation that eventually led to the execution of a search warrant at his Toronto home late last year.
The document that police used to successfully obtain judicial authorization for searching Poon's residence and electronic devices has since been sealed by the court, limiting public access to the specific details that convinced the judge to approve the search.
Personal Background and Public Persona
Dr. Poon's personal life has also drawn media attention. According to a 2024 profile in the New York Times, Poon met his now-wife, an Irish nurse, while she was vacationing with her family in Toronto in 2017. The couple later married in 2024, four years after Poon's highly publicized advocacy efforts during the pandemic.
In a revealing detail from the Times profile, Poon's wife mentioned that before flying to Toronto for a three-week visit, she appreciated that Poon had proactively sent her a clean police record check. "I was an avid crime documentary fan," she told the newspaper. "I didn't want to end up featured on 60 Minutes."
None of the 69 charges against Dr. Poon have been tested in court, and he maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Poon is scheduled to appear in court again next month as the legal process continues to unfold.
