Doctor pursued me for sex
A woman who says she emerged from a religious cult looking for a doctor to help her end her own life ended up in an allegedly controlling relationship with her GP.
Stuff can reveal Catherine English is one of the four women who have complained to the Medical Council about Wellington doctor Deane Drew.
He is facing multiple allegations of having sexual relationships with female patients.
In May, Stuff revealed he was facing a professional misconduct investigation.
More than 18 months since the first complaint, the council’s investigatory body has finished the first phase of its inquiry. Drew is currently being given the right of reply.
He declined to comment on the allegations when approached by Stuff.
English separated from Drew shortly after he told her about the first complaint laid against him in October 2016.
In early 2017, she laid her own complaint against him with the Medical Council.
This week, English will unveil an art exhibition which addresses those allegations.
She met Drew in 1991, as his patient. At the time, the 27-yearold English had only just cut ties with the religious cult she had been born into.
She says she was ‘‘doctorshopping’’ with the intention of gaining medication to end her own life, and that Drew showed her care and affection.
He began visiting her at home, and bringing her gifts and flowers. ‘‘He was this really caring doctor who was interested in me, and when he came over I felt really special that someone as great as this would visit me,’’ English says.
‘‘I thought that I loved him and he loved me but, in fact, he had a partner and kids and it was his second marriage. He pursued me. At the time, I thought he saved me.’’
Drew initiated a sexual relationship within a year, she says, and she did not consider saying no to his advances.
‘‘Because of my socialisation within the cult, we learned that women were submissive. That’s what I was brought up with – especially men in authority.
‘‘He would make me the last patient of the day. There were showers at the clinic and he used to say ‘come up here’ and we used to have sex in the shower. They were cold, I used to hate it, but I didn’t say no, I just went with it.’’
She tried to break off the relationship a couple of years later, she says, but Drew was insistent; turning up to her house and work unannounced at all hours. ‘‘He wouldn’t let me go.’’ In 1997, she became pregnant with his child. English went on to marry Drew and have four of his kids. He has eight biological children from three relationships.
During their relationship, English says, he was controlling and manipulative.
She says Drew told her about the first complainant in October 2016. He went on to tell her about more women he had been sexually involved with, some of whom had been his patients. In explanation, he told her he was a sex addict and needed her support, she says.