WA: Call for Medical Act overhaul after doctor assaults patient
PERTH, April 3 AAP - The Health Consumers Council (HCC) has demanded urgent changesto the Medical Act after a doctor who sexually assaulted a pregnant patient continuedto work after being charged by police.
Andy Eu-Jin Teh, a registrar at Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, yesterday pleadedguilty in the Perth District Court to two counts of sexually penetrating a 32-year-oldwoman without her consent and one count of indecently assaulting her.
The court heard Teh assaulted the woman after she was admitted to the hospital's emergencydepartment suffering suspected appendicitis.
He resigned from the hospital after being charged but it is understood he later tooka job at Hollywood Private Hospital.
HCC director Michelle Kosky said the case demonstrated the urgent need for a reviewof the Medical Act which currently did not address doctors' criminal records.
"It doesn't mention criminal activity in relation to doctors at all because the Actwas drafted in 1894. At that time, doctors were not thought to be of the criminal class,"
Ms Kosky said.
She said doctors found guilty of criminal offences were required to resign from publichospitals but were often able to find work in private hospitals.
"This sort of discrepancy really needs addressing in a review of the Act," Ms Kosky said.
The case against Teh has been adjourned until June 4.
AAP alm/tnf/bwl
KEYWORD: TEH
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