Doctor facing inquiry is subject of further complaint

A further complaint about the Wellington doctor accused of having sexual relationships with vulnerable women patients has been received by the Medical Council.

A fortnight ago Stuff revealed Deane Drew is being investigated by the Medical Council’s professional conduct committee (PCC) for allegations he began sexual relationships with four women patients, dating back to 1991. He has declined to comment. Stuff can reveal the PCC has now received a further complaint, which it will consider as part of its investigation.

The Medical Council would not provide any information, citing ‘‘legal privacy provisions.’’

‘‘What we can tell you however, is that the primary purpose of the professional conduct committee is to protect the safety of the public and it does that by undertaking a comprehensive investigation of the concerns referred to it.’’

The current enquiry was sparked after a Wellington woman complained Drew pursued a sexual relationship with her in March 2016 while she was his patient at Lambton Quay practice City Medical, which he owned at the time. Clara, 64, (not her real name) laid her initial complaint in October 2016. Three more women then came forward with further complaints, with the latest bringing the total to five.

One of the complainants told Stuff she was heartened another patient had come forward.

‘‘I’m really sad, but I’m really glad that someone else has got the strength to come forward. ’’

However, she said the process had been difficult and isolating.

‘‘I’m just really tired of it, the waiting. The more I wait the less I feel like talking, and the more I feel it’s not taken seriously.

‘‘The Medical Council go home in the weekend, but we’re still waiting.’’

Sexual relationships with patients violate medical ethics, due to the breach of trust, potential harm to the patient, and power imbalance of the relationship. Medical Council guidelines say this is because doctors can influence or manipulate patients into giving their consent.