Allegations of Sexual Abuse in NZ
	Dr Hiran Fernando (N.P. Doctor) - Index Index 4. Trial: Verdict
	Radio New Zealand October 13 2006; 05:24 Medical Council orders convicted GP to cease work The Medical Council is ordering a New Plymouth doctor who indecently assaulted 10 patients to cease practising immediately. Dr Hiran Fernando, 58, was yesterday convicted in the High Court in New Plymouth on 26 charges of assaulting women between 1981 and 2002. After three days of deliberation, the jury also found him not guilty on 11 charges - including the three most serious charges of sexual violation. The trial lasted 5 weeks. The Medical Council will this morning advise his lawyers he's under investigation and shouldn't return to work. If he ignores that, the Council says he can be quickly suspended, even before any move to de-register him. Sentencing will take place in five weeks. The judge said a prison term is not inevitable. Born and educated in Sri Lanka, Fernando came to New Zealand in 1978, working at Wanganui and National Women's Hospitals before moving to New Plymouth at the end of 1980.