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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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Sex allegations against a doctor
were heard on the first day of a depositions hearing in the New Plymouth
District Court yesterday. The New Plymouth doctor, who has name
suppression, is facing charges of multiple sex offences against 10 of his
female patients. The 20 indecent assaults and two
sexual violations allegedly happened during medical examinations in the 1980s
and 1990s. During her opening address in
court yesterday, Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke described how the
complainants alleged they had undergone prolonged and unnecessary intimate
examinations, as well as inappropriate questioning about their sex lives. In many cases, the women claim
they were made to strip naked in front of the doctor, and were not given a
blanket to cover themselves. One woman, who had seen the doctor
for treatment of thrush and a urinary tract infection, was given a breast
examination, she said. "The defendant took hold of
her nipple and rolled it between his thumb and forefinger. He did this to
both nipples for between five to ten minutes. During this, he asked her how
it felt, and how did it make her feel. "The defendant went on to ask
her how often she had sex, if she enjoyed it and whether she reached
orgasm," Ms Clarke said. The woman, who was then 18, said
the doctor had rubbed her genitals while questioning her about her sex life.
He was not wearing gloves at the time. During a later consultation, she
alleges, the doctor again touched her and asked her about her sexual
practices with her partner. As he questioned her, he pressed his erect penis
against her thigh, she said. Ms Clarke said another complainant,
who went to see the doctor for back pain, was allegedly asked to remove all
her clothing, apart from her underpants, and he then watched her perform
various exercises. She also complained he had touched
her breasts and pulled her nipples. One woman, who visited him during
the early stages of her pregnancy, said she felt uncomfortable and confused
when the doctor examined her internally as he rubbed her genitals. "She lifted her head and
shoulders and half sat up on the bed to look at him. The complainant
describes the look on the defendant's face as one she will never forget. The
look was a half smile, smirky look. When she sat up and looked at him the
look on his face changed and he immediately stopped what he was doing." The complainants said examinations
took place without a nurse present, nor without the offer of one being
present. Crown witness John Drummond, a GP
with many years experience who is the national co-ordinator of police medical
services, was questioned by Ms Clarke. Dr Drummond described a number of
the allegations as inappropriate or inconsistent with the symptoms the
patients had presented with. He said it would be considered
highly inappropriate to have a female undress in front of a male doctor. "Undressing in front of
somebody is a sexual act. Clinical examination is not a sexual act," Dr
Drummond said. He said he knew of no medical
reason why a doctor would need to "roll" a women's nipple as some
of the complainants had described. While it was not mandatory to have
a nurse present during intimate examinations, it would normally be offered,
Dr Drummond said. The depositions, to decide if the
Crown has a case which should go to trial, are being heard in front of Judge
Rea and continue today. -------------------- CAPTION: SEX ACCUSED: The doctor (right)
enters court yesterday, shielded by an umbrella. Photo: MIKE SCOTT |
