|
|
Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
|
|
|
|
Two Canterbury GPs are facing
disciplinary hearings before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
following allegations of disgraceful conduct. One of the doctors allegedly paid
for sex with a woman who was his patient and also supplied her with drugs
without a medical reason and advised her on suicide. Also, it is claimed the doctor
paid the woman not to go to an interview at the health and disability
commissioner's office. The doctor denies the allegations,
which cover a period of more than two years, and has voluntarily relinquished
his medical registration pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing
scheduled to be heard later in the month. The other Canterbury GP is accused
of having sex in 1985 with a 16-year-old who was his patient. He is also alleged to have
supplied her with cannabis, cocaine and nitrous oxide. The doctor is still practising
with no conditions imposed on him. A date for a disciplinary hearing is yet
to be set, pending a High Court ruling relating to discovery, tribunal
spokesperson Gay Fraser says. A third GP from New Plymouth is to
front up to 35 counts of sexual misconduct against him in the High Court in
September this year. The doctor denies the charges. He continues to practise amid
controversy over name suppression, but must not conduct any intimate
examination (breast or pelvic) of a female patient, except in emergencies. Also, he must also have a
chaperone present while examining any female patients or children. Last month, New Plymouth's
Taranaki Daily News battled unsuccessfully to have the name suppression
lifted. If convicted a HPDT committee will
hold a hearing to decide if further action needs to be taken, Ms Fraser says.
|
