Teen tells of first solo appointment

A teenager says she was left feeling ashamed and embarrassed after a consultation for a throat infection turned into a discussion about her sexual practices.

Speaking before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal yesterday, the woman recounted a 2015 consultation with a doctor now accused of misconduct.

The woman, who is unable to be named, alleged the doctor asked her if she was sexually active and whether she masturbated, before telling her she should consider it.

She was 15 at the time, and it was the first doctor’s appointment she had had on her own: ‘‘I remember thinking,’I hope this doesn’t happen every time’.’’

The complainant is one of eight women who will give evidence in a Professional Conduct Committee case against the former Ka¯ piti doctor who denies all charges. The PCC alleges the doctor performed breast examinations, spanning 2011 to 2017,

A woman speaking before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal yesterday

that were unnecessary, unwanted, performed without a chaperone and often unrecorded.

Yesterday, the woman described an appointment where, after examining her throat and taking medical information, the doctor asked her if she smoked, drank and was sexually active.

He also said her father was a patient of his and shared details of his medical history, she said.

She described being embarrassed and surprised when the doctor’s questions turned more personal, and was worried he would tell her father.

‘‘He asked if I masturbated and I said no because I didn’t want people to know whether I did or not . . . he said I should.

‘‘I felt very violated and taken advantage of. I felt very vulnerable’’

Under cross-examination she agreed the doctor had referred to a previous sexual experience she had been uncomfortable with, and told her it was important not to be pressured into sexual activity, and that it should be with someone she loves and who loves her.

Asked by defence lawyer Donald Steven if the doctor could have said instead masturbation was preferable to casual sex, she didn’t agree.

Steven said the doctor would emphatically deny her allegations. The lawyer alsoasked why the comment wasn’t included in an email complaint to the medical centre written by her mother.

‘‘It was embarrassing sitting next to my mum talking about masturbation.’’

Although she said she felt uncomfortable during the consultation he said: ‘‘You did not actually communicate a sense of discomfort to the doctor.’’

‘‘As a 15-year-old that was very hard to do,’’ she replied.

The hearing continues today.

‘‘I felt very violated and taken advantage of. I felt very vulnerable.’’