North York anesthesiologist Dr. George Doodnaught leaves court Monday, January 14, 2013. He is accused of sexually assaulting sedated patients. (Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun)

TORONTO -- A North York anesthesiologist forced 21 women to engage in sexual acts while they were conscious but sedated during operations, a Crown attorney alleged Monday.

Dr. George Doodnaught administered two drugs that put a 40-year-old mother of twins into “conscious sedation” in February 2010, David Wright said in his opening address.

She was one of 21 women, between the ages of 25 and 75, who were subjected to various forms of sexual abuse by Doodnaught while they were having operations such as knee replacements, the Crown alleged.

Doodnaught, 64, who has practised at North York General Hospital since 1981, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of sexual assault on patients between February 2006 and February 2010. All complainants’ identities are covered by a publication ban.

Wright said that Doodnaught began fondling the 40-year-old woman’s breasts under her surgical gown. Then he kissed her, Wright told Justice David McCombs in the judge-alone trial.