CdA doctor may face felony charges

The Kootenai County prosecutor is considering filing felony charges against a former Coeur d’Alene doctor accused of improper conduct with patients, despite a city decision not to pursue the case.

Bill Douglas said Monday that he has asked Coeur d’Alene Police Department investigators for more information about patient complaints regarding Tarek Haw, whose medical license was revoked in May.

Douglas said he’s considering felony charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and “forcible penetration by use of a foreign object.” Under Idaho law, that final charge carries the possibility of life in prison.

“I have to recognize the presumption of innocence, but there seems to be concern by many patients,” said Douglas, who estimated that he’s heard of a dozen complaints. “Whenever you have a concern by patients, you have to look at it closely.”

Haw, 61, was accused by the state Board of Medicine of misusing prescription drugs, failing to properly diagnose or treat medical conditions and conducting examinations that bordered on sexual misconduct. That included multiple, unnecessary breast exams and pelvic exams conducted without gloves.

“If you go in for a sore throat, is it necessary to perform a vaginal exam?” Douglas said.

Douglas’ move comes nearly two weeks after Coeur d’Alene city officials announced they’d declined to file misdemeanor charges against Haw after a three-month police investigation.

Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Tinkey wouldn’t discuss the decision not to charge Haw after a complaint of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider. Douglas, however, said city officials may have believed they couldn’t prove that Haw conducted improper examinations for the purpose of sexual gratification, a key element of the charge.

“We think we can do that,” Douglas said. He added that he wouldn’t “second-guess” the city’s decision.

Coeur d’Alene Police Capt. Ron Clark said Monday that it wasn’t unusual for a prosecutor to request more information from investigators and that his department would cooperate fully. Detective Dacia Turner, the lead investigator, was out of the office Monday, he added.