A GP in Darwin has been banned from any medical practice for a period of time for having an affair with his patient, while also treating the unsuspecting husband at the time.
The woman gave birth to two children during the tryst, both of which were proven to be her doctor’s in a paternity test.
The pair became a client of the practitioner – who cannot be named – in May 2008 and they began their sexual relationship in 2009, lasting four years.
After finding out the children were biologically his, he continued to treat them too.
The doctor is married and has three children, all under the age of 10.
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When the woman’s husband learned of the affair in 2013, he immediately contacted AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) to notify them of the inappropriate behaviour.
An investigation was launched by the Medical Board of Australia and found the practitioner guilty of several counts of professional misconduct and failure to maintain professional boundaries.
Under the investigation, the doctor admitted to the relationship and fathering two children, but denied he’d done anything wrong. According to Medicare records, he saw the woman a further three times after warnings of his alleged misdemeanour.
The woman continues to supports the doctor, saying in the tribunal hearing: “I do not see the relationship we had as being that of doctor and patient.”
“Had I not been his patient at all, the relationship would still have occurred in exactly the same way because of our friendship and time we spent together.”
The Tribunal has now reprimanded the GP and suspended him for four months.
He is required to complete a course in Medical Ethics, undertake mentoring sessions that examine professional boundaries and will be under review for 12 months.
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