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Allegations
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New Zealand Herald Complainant also worked for doctor as a part-time
nurse An Auckland GP has been accused of ''grooming'' a patient before starting a sexual relationship with her. Medical Council rules forbid doctors having sex with patients. The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, which began hearing the professional misconduct case yesterday, has suppressed the names of the doctor, who denies the allegations against him, and the patient. Ms X, an immigrant in 2000 who gained residency in 2005, first consulted Dr Y in September 2004. She was a nursing student and needed a medical examination as part of immigration procedures. In October 2006, she started working with him part-time as a nurse. She told the tribunal the doctor personally delivered x-ray results to her home following the 2004 consultation. She offered to get him coffee at a nearby cafeteria to thank him and because she had not wanted to invite him in as she was alone. He suggested dinner and they went to McDonald's. He began phoning her when he knew her partner would be away. Sometimes he discussed medical topics and sometimes flirted. Gregory Hollister-Jones, lawyer for the Director of Proceedings in the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner, said: ``It is alleged that Dr [Y], for a two-year period, was grooming Ms [X], through their telephone relationship, for a closer relationship.'' Ms X said the doctor began touching her as soon as she started working at his clinic. Weeks later, he took her and his receptionist to dinner. Afterwards, he dropped off the receptionist and Ms X needed to use a toilet. He suggested a motel or the clinic. She chose the clinic. ''When I finished using the toilet he kissed me and put his hands around me,'' Ms X said, becoming tearful. ``I couldn't move. He started taking my clothes off and he tried to make love to me. However, this was not successful. ''Over the next few months we had sexual intercourse on a number of occasions. This usually occurred at the surgery or in my flat but also once at a motel ... after work.'' On one occasion, after Dr Y had not used a condom, he gave her an emergency contraception pill the next morning. She described 10 other medical consultations with him from September 2004 to May 2007. She became suspicious of Dr Y and jealous of the attention he paid to the receptionists and had a row with one. She told a nurse at a related health clinic of the affair, which set her complaint in train, and she ceased working with Dr Y. Cross-examined by the doctor's lawyer, Harry Waalkens, QC, Ms X denied she was lying. She also denied Mr Waalkens' suggestion the doctor had to speak to her about her making racist comments about patients. |
