Doctor’s alleged actions ‘harassing’

The alleged behaviour of a Ka¯ piti doctor was clandestine, harassing and potentially traumatising to his patients, a professor of general practice has said.

Bruce Arroll, of Auckland University, said the doctor – now accused of misconduct – was unprofessional, breached sexual boundaries policies, and kept ‘‘substandard’’ clinical notes.

Alleged comments about female patients’ looks and breasts made by the doctor were unacceptable.

‘‘At best it would make the patients feel uncomfortable and vulnerable and at worse be seen as a sexual advance.’’

Arroll appeared before the Health Practitioners Tribunal yesterday to give evidence in a case brought by the Professional Conduct Committee against the doctor.

The committee alleges the doctor performed breast examinations, spanning 2011 to 2017, that were unnecessary, unwanted, performed without a chaperone and often unrecorded.

It also alleges the doctor told a 15-year-old to consider masturbation, and made inappropriate comments about patient’s appearances and breasts.

The doctor has denied all the charges. He and the eight women complainants have name suppression.

In the case of one woman who alleged her breast examination took more than 15 minutes, Arroll said it should have taken four minutes.

While the women alleged the doctor focused only on her breasts, an examination should include light pressing of the breasts, examination of the armpits and above the collar bone.

Alleged comments about masturbation to a 15-year-old patient were unacceptable, although it was reasonable to broach the subject of sexual health with her.

‘‘The alleged comment about breasts and mentioning masturbation have a prurient nature.’’

Arroll described the doctor’s breach of a 2017 undertaking he would not initiate breast health with patients, and always use a chaperone, as a determination to ‘‘clandestinely continue his practice and not record it in his notes’’.

There was ‘‘ a component of harassment’’ in experiences alleged by women who said they were pressured into examinations.

‘‘There is a disturbing pattern of apparently pressuring women to have a breast examination . . . none were at high risk and not his regular patients.’’

The hearing will continue on Monday, when experts and former colleagues of the doctor will give evidence in his defence.