Shafiul Milky survivor Fran Millington speaks out
A survivor of GP Shafiul Milky, who committed multiple sexual offences against his patients, has detailed the trauma she suffered during her decade-long fight for justice.
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Fran Millington saw a doctor for a sore ankle and was left permanently scarred.
The fallout from her experience with sexually abusive doctor Shafiul Milky has seen her move states and receive a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, as she waited more than 10 years for justice.
Milky held one of the most trusted positions in the community as a GP at Peninsula Family Medical Practice in Ocean Grove.
But he betrayed the faith people instinctively have in doctors, and used women’s vulnerability for his own sick desires.
In March, a County Court jury found Milky guilty of 15 charges, including indecent assault, sexual assault and rape.
The 59-year-old was found guilty of sexual offences against six of his patients – and other alleged victims have also come forward.
The first of the survivors the trial heardMilkypreyed on was Ms Millington.
Ms Millington saw Milky, who she has dubbed the “devil doctor”, three times during September 2012 after she injured her ankle.
While he appeared polite and smiley, she felt he was slimy and sleazy.
On the first two appointments, the court heard that despite Ms Millington visiting for her ankle, Milky redirected conversation to breast examinations.
On the third visit, which was to discuss blood test results, Milky touched her breast and squeezed her nipple.
He told her to remove her pants so he could feel her pulse in her groin area, and exposed her breasts and pressed a stethoscope against them.
She told the court she noticed he was pulling or scratching at his groin area.
Milky would years later be charged with four counts of indecent assault over what transpired at this appointment.
Ms Millington left the clinic and started crying and shaking outside.
Traumatised, she bravely reported Milky to police and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
She says she also tipped off a staff member at the practice.
But her courageous actions were futile.
Milky was not charged and continued to work at the Ocean Grove clinic.
Meanwhile, Ms Millington’s life was crumbling.
She was haunted by the “sleazy smile” Milky flashed after he violated her.
The 58-year-old grandmother said she lived in fear of running into anyone from the clinic, and developed mental health issues including PTSD.
“I couldn’t sleep … I had nightmares, really horrific nightmares,” she said.
“I couldn’t leave the house, I was terrified.”
In 2016, she moved to the Northern Territory as remaining in Ocean Grove was too triggering.
More than 10 years after Ms Millington was abused, Milky was found guiltyof crimes against her and four more patients, who he offended against between 2016 and 2018, at the same clinic.
The jury found that in early 2019, he also sexually assaulted a young woman in her Norlane home while working for an in-home doctor service.
Arnold Thomas and Becker says 13 women have come forward to the law firm, alleging sexual assault while attending the Ocean Grove Peninsula Family Medical Practice and when using the National Home Doctor Service.
They allege Milky inappropriately touched them under the guise of performing legitimate procedures.
Two of the women were involved in the trial, and it’s understood the other 11 have not yet made reports to police.
The majority of these women have approached the firm in recent weeks with allegations about Milky’s conduct, around the time of the trial and following coverage from the Geelong Advertiser.
Principal lawyer Jodie Harris said as more women came forward, the firm’s investigations indicated there had been a number of complaints made to Peninsula Family Medical Practice and AHPRA.
The firm was concerned complaints may not have been acted on.
“We are now looking into what the medical practice and AHPRA had done to protect female patients,” she said.
A number of these women have alleged Milky was strongly advocating for breast examinations or internal vaginal examination even when these procedures were not related to the reason they had scheduled a medical appointment, the firm said.
“We have also heard from a number of women that Dr Milky was overprescribing breast examinations and Pap smears,” she said.
“Some of our clients have advised that Dr Milky led them to believe that their health was at risk and that they should have these procedures immediately.”
During the trial, the court heard:
A WOMAN who was digitally raped heard Milky say “very nice” while he conducted what he claimed was an urgent Pap smear, after she told him she thought she had thrush at the Ocean Grove clinic;
A PATIENT who Milky digitally raped was made uncomfortable by Milky’s conduct — he mentioned she did not need to wear makeup and rested his hand on her leg while taking her blood pressure; and,
A WOMAN who was sexually assaulted by Milky had visited after experiencing sciatic nerve pain and flu concerns, and Milky massaged her neck and shoulders and asked if she was sexually active and she needed a partner who could massage her.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) documents note that the 2012 complaint – understood to be Ms Millington’s – was “dealt” with by the police in 2013, and a performance and professional standards panel in 2015.
“Neither matter proceeded against Dr Milky,” VCAT documents said.
“The police brief of evidence was ‘not authorised’, due to insufficient evidence.
“The panel found, on the evidence presented to it, that Dr Milky had no case to answer.”
The documents noted police “reactivated” the investigation in 2019 in light of other complaints.
In July 2018, the Medical Board of Australia received a second complaint, the VCAT documents said, and a third complainant made an allegation about conduct during a consultation in February, 2019.
This complainant made a police statement which led to an immediate action process, the VCAT documents said.
Conditions placed on Milky by the Medical Board of Australia in March, 2019 included a ban on seeing female patients.
He was sacked from Peninsula Family Medical Practice in July that year.
In September 2019, Milky’s registration was suspended.
But Milky won the right to again practise when VCAT granted a stay in November 2019 after he complained of financial hardship.
He then worked in Colac, and continued to see patients after fronting court, but was still unable to treat females.
Documents from when Milky fronted VCAT in late 2019 show material considered by the medical board comprised reports by 12 women that during consultations, Milky allegedly engaged in “serious sexual boundary violations”.
“Alleged conduct variously comprises touching and/or attempting to touch his patients’ body, including breasts, buttocks, thighs and vagina when not clinically indicated; attempting to kiss a patient; making sexualised remarks to several patients; and requesting unnecessary intimate examinations,” they said.
Milky denied the allegations.
He was charged in 2020, and his medical registration was once again suspended.
Ms Millington said she felt devastated by how AHPRA and initially police had handled her complaints.
She said the way she had been treated was sad and cruel.
“No one believed me,” she said.
While Ms Millington later felt well supported by Victoria Police, she said she had been left damaged by her experience with AHPRA.
She said she was left in a flood of tears after giving evidence to the performance and professional standards panel in 2015.
Ms Millington said she felt dismissed.
“I honestly would like to hear from AHPRA,” she said.
“Not one person has ever contacted myself to say ‘we’re sorry’.”
Australian Patients Association chief executive Stephen Mason said history was littered with patient complaints which were not taken seriously.
“Doctors quite rightly have a high standing in society but there are a small number that misbehave and need to be weeded out of the profession,” he said.
“Immediate action should be taken by police and the (clinics) these doctors work at.
“Investigations by AHPRA do take time, but where they involve serious misconduct they need to be fast tracked for the benefit of both the victim and the doctor in question.”
AHPRA confirmed it had “open cases” related to Milky.
“These are on hold as we await the outcomes of the criminal proceedings, which take precedence,” a spokesperson said.
“Dr Milky remains suspended while those criminal proceedings take place.
“Serious criminal convictions are referred to a tribunal which has the power to cancel a practitioner’s registration.”
A spokeswoman from AHPRA and the National Boards told the Geelong Advertiser: “We are sorry to hear of Ms Millington’s experience.”
“We recognise that the experience is likely to have lasting and life changing impacts,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said AHPRA and National Boards had taken considerable steps to ensure notifiers were supported through complaint processes.
“We are sorry that many of these improvements were not in place at the time of Ms Millington’s complaint, and we are sorry to hear she didn’t feel supported through the process," the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said AHPRA and National Boards had overhauled processes to strengthen the management and oversight of notifications, and to improve support provided to notifiers.
“These measures include the introduction of the Notifier Support Service in 2021, with specific expertise to support notifiers and witnesses involved in the notifications process and legal proceedings,” she said.
“AHPRA recently delivered a blueprint to reform the nation’s complex health regulation system … to Australian health ministers.
“Australia’s health ministers have backed AHPRA’s plans for significant reform, which includes commitments to increase public information about practitioners with a history of sexual misconduct.”
The Geelong Advertiser attempted to obtain comment from Peninsula Family Medical Practice, the National Home Doctor Service and a lawyer who has represented Milky.
Ms Millington said it infuriated her that if her case had been properly handled to begin with, other women’s suffering could have been prevented.
Milky is set to be sentenced later this month.
When Milky was finally found guilty, Ms Millington felt “sheer relief”.
“I started crying and shaking and just sobbed,” she said.
“It’s taken 10 years for people to believe me and my story.”
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or harassment, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
In an emergency, call triple-0.
– with Naomi Neilson
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