Doctor prevented from seeing female patients
A GOLD Coast doctor has been banned from treating women patients, the healthcare watchdog has announced.
Harold Joseph Davis, 55, who practises from Burleigh Heads and also lives in the suburb, had the strict conditions imposed on his registration on May 13 by the state’s Health Ombudsman.
Dr Davis must not have contact with any female patients, the announcement by the Health Ombudsman states.
However the Health Ombudsman did not give further reasons for why it has taken action against Dr Davis.
The immediate registration action imposed on Dr Davis was effective from May 13 and would continue until either the ombudsman removes the conditions imposed or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) sets the decision aside, the Health Ombudsman says in the statement on its website.
The investigation is understood to be in its early stages.
Women patients must be told of the ban when they ask to book an appointment with reception staff and Dr Harris must not tell the patients about the ban personally, the conditions state.
Dr Davis must keep a record of every appointment made and give a copy to the Health Ombudsman each month. Dr Davis must also tell the Health Ombudsman the locations of the practices he plans to work from, and obtain approval to work there, the conditions state.
The OHO can impose immediate restrictions and bans on medical professionals who are a risk to public health and safety or for reasons of public interest, it states on its website.
Dr Davis has been registered as a doctor in Australia since 1993, after he completed his Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Queensland in 1992, according to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency register.
Sundoctors skin cancer clinic in Burleigh Heads, where Dr Davis usually works according to its website, on Monday morning told the Bulletin by phone that Dr Davis had “left work for the day”.
The Bulletin sought comment from Dr Davis by leaving a message but he had not returned the call at time of publication. The clinic receptionist was unable to say whether Dr Davis was seeing patients this week.