MEMORIES MAY BE MUDDLED BY DRUGS

Pharmacologist tells doctor's abuse trial accuser's recollection may be
distorted

An alleged victims heavy drug use could have blurred fact and fiction in an
indecent-assault case, an expert defence witness testified yesterday.

Gregory Johnstone, a pharmacologist and toxicologist, said it is possible
the mans recollection has become distorted over time.

In my opinion, it would be probable that there would be a modification of
the original memory, he told Nova Scotia Supreme Court yesterday.

William H. Michael Christie, a former physician who taught school before
that, is on trial for allegedly molesting three male patients and a
student. The charges date as far back as the 1970s, when the men were in
their early teens.

One of the former patients testified Tuesday that Christie masturbated him
after hed accidentally swallowed a pen top.

He acknowledged having problems afterward with marijuana, magic mushrooms,
alcohol and LSD, popping as many as 15 tabs of acid at one time.

Johnstone told court yesterday that long-term use of some drugs can blend
one memory with a similar one from before the drug use, or introduce new
elements to the memory.

Defence lawyer Joel Pink suggested the patient had combined the memory of
the pen-top visit with two other visits, in which Christie would have had
to inspect his genital area.

He pointed out that the complainant had also gone in for a possible
urinary-tract infection, and later on, for a hemorrhoid attack.

Johnstone said a heavy drug user could conclude such events happened during
one visit.

Crown attorney Ron MacDonald has until Monday, when the trial continues, to
prepare his cross-examination of Johnstone.

Meanwhile, Christie continued yesterday to deny all allegations against
him. The ex-patients all say he either masturbated them or tried to, during
visits to his Sheet Harbour offices.

MacDonald claims Christie, whose medical licence has been revoked,
falsified his records.

He noted Christie listed a urinary-tract infection as a possible diagnosis
in several cases, but it always turned out to be wrong.

In one 1981 visit, MacDonald said, Christie didnt bother collecting a urine
sample. Christie said that sometimes happened if the lab was closed.

Perhaps the other reason is, sir, he didnt have a urinary-tract infection,
but you wrote that down to cover up the fact that you were playing with his
penis, MacDonald said.

Thats absolutely not true, Christie retorted.