WA News

WA doctor deregistered for engaging in a sex act with a patient

  • 88 reading now

A West Australian doctor has been struck from the medical register by the State Administrative Tribunal for engaging in a sex act with a patient.

Doctor Vinpin Lal accused his patient - who cannot be named for legal reasons - of trying to extort money from him after she performed oral sex on him in a consultation room in November 2013.

He accused the woman of forcing herself on him - but has since admitted the act was consensual.

The patient was cleared of blackmail charges after a trial in the District Court in 2015, but Lal's professional conduct during the incident remained under scrutiny with the SAT.

The tribunal's decision found "Dr Lal, in the course of his practice as a medical practitioner registered under the National Law, behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct in that on 18 November 2013, Dr Lal engaged in sexual contact with the patient during the course of a consultation at Dr Lal's practice".

"The conduct... was aggravated by the fact that Dr Lal had treated the patient for gynaecological issues, and in or about September 2013, had provided her with medication to increase her libido.

Advertisement

"In having sexual contact with the patient, Dr Lal breached section 8.2 of the Medical Board of Australia's 'Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia'."

The tribunal also found that Dr Lal made a misleading entry into the patient's clinical notes, indicating he had examined and advised her for lower back pain, when in fact no such examination or advice had taken place.

The tribunal cancelled Dr Lal's registration as a medical practitioner and disqualified him from reapplying for registration for five years.

He was also ordered to pay the Medical Board of Australia's costs for the proceedings.