|
|
Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
|
|
|
|
There is disbelief in New Plymouth
that a doctor found guilty of indecently assaulting 26 female patients can
keep practicing. A jury yesterday found Dr Hiran
Fernando indecently assaulted female patients between 1981 and 2002. He has
been able to keep treating patients while the allegations have been swirling
around and the Medical Council is only now advising him not to continue
working as he awaits sentencing. He can not be suspended yet, as by law he
must be given a week to say why he should keep his job. Sexual abuse counselor, Lorraine
Jans, says Hiran Fernando should have been suspended as soon as the
allegations first arose. She says the fact that did not happen means his
female patients were not given the opportunity to make an informed decision
about whether to keep seeing him, or go to another doctor. She is calling for more robust
processes in future. Crown Prosecutor, Tim Brewer, is
calling it an especially tragic case. Fifty-eight-year-old Fernando was well
respected within the community. He was awarded the New Plymouth District
Council citizens award in 2003, has also been the recipient of the highest
Rotary award in the country and is the founder of the Taranaki Multi-Ethnic Extravaganza,
which attracts more than 10-thousand people to the city every year. Hiran Fernando has been granted
bail and will be sentenced next month. |
