Rapist still registered as GP
Victim slams inaction over ‘devil doctor’
Victims of a convicted rapist are seething after learning the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is yet to deregister the former Ocean Grove doctor – despite his 11year jail sentence.
Shafiul Milky, who was found guilty by a County Court jury in March last year of 15 charges against six women, is still listed as a medical practitioner with AHPRA and the Medical Board of Australia as he sits in a jail cell.
One of the abused women, Fran Millington, said she had been asked to provide testimony for an independent AHPRA hearing of her “horrific” experiences inside a clincan ic with the man she dubbed “the devil doctor” – more than a year after he was sent to prison.
“We have been through hell and back, and here they are just bringing all this trauma up,” she said.
“AHPRA seem to be above the Australian law, because a court has found him guilty and thrown him in jail, yet they still haven’t struck him off their list.
“How is that possible? It’s disgusting and degrading.”
Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Jodie Harris said the firm was concerned complaints by a number of women against Milky to AHPRA had not been acted on. “We are now looking into what the medical practice and AHPRA had done to protect female patients,” she said.
Ms Harris, who leads the firm’s Geelong branch, said the Peninsula Family Medical Practice had been served with a writ on behalf of three women Milky was convicted of abusing, with the combined suit tipped to run into the millions of dollars if proven.
It is understood the firm is investigating another nine cases and anticipates issuing further proceedings against the clinic “in the near future”.
The disgraced doctor is appealing against his conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court of Victoria, with the hearing set for June 7.
An AHPRA spokesman said its probe concerning Dr Milky was “awaiting the outcome of the criminal proceedings, which take precedence”.
“Our investigations resumed once the criminal proceedings were finalised, but for legal reasons we are unable to comment further,” he said.
The spokesman said Milky was suspended during the court case and he remained suspended – but did not respond when asked whether he would be banned permanently.
“While we cannot comment on individuals, in cases of serious criminal offending the matter is generally referred to the relevant tribunal,” he said.
“Only a court or a tribunal cancel a practitioner’s registration.”
Ms Millington said having to relive the abuse by giving evidence at another hearing was “disheartening”.
“We have to repeat ourselves all over again,” she said.
“Just to satisfy whether they (AHPRA) should be striking him off their list, even though a court has found him guilty and he’s in jail.”
Milky, who was born in Bangladesh, will likely be deported to New Zealand after serving his sentence.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or harassment, call
1800 RESPECT on
1800 737 732. In an emergency, call triple-0.