Sydney doctor Maria Bastas found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct over patient relationship

An inner west doctor who engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient could be stripped of her medical registration following an investigation by the state’s healthcare watchdog.

An inner west doctor who engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient could be stripped of her medical registration following an investigation by the state’s healthcare watchdog.

Dr Maria Bastas has been found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a male patient she began treating while working at the Marrickville Metro Medical Centre.

The ruling was handed down after the patient made a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission about the relationship in 2022.

The tribunal heard the two-year relationship spanned a period from 2015 to 2017 including at times when Ms Bastas was still treating the man.

Evidence provided to the tribunal from the patient stated he had exchanged mobile numbers with Ms Bastas in mid-2015 before a relationship ensued.

Ms Bastas worked at the Marrickville Metro Medical Clinic.

During the course of their relationship, the pair would meet outside Ms Bastas’s practice including for meals at her favourite Greek cafe.

The patient told the tribunal the relationship became sexual and included encounters at Ms Bastas’s consultation room, in public carparks and in the “back fields” of Macquarie University.

Ms Bastas admitted to meeting the patient at places other than the medical centre, including at their homes, but denied having a sexual relationship.

Ms Bastas also rejected claims her actions amounted to professional misconduct however

accepted that aspects of her interactions with the patient constituted “an inappropriately close personal relationship” including gifting the patient aftershave, chocolate, trousers, pizza and a cash loan of $500.

In its ruling, the tribunal cast doubt about the reliability of Ms Bastas’ evidence and instead accepted evidence provided by the patient.

The ruling was handed down by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The tribunal heard the pair had exchanged at least 150 messages and at least 73 telephone calls from 2016 to 2022.

The tribunal further found Ms Bastas’ statements that she only met with the patient outside work to listen to his concerns and counsel him was “implausible”.

“The doctor-patient relationship is inherently unequal. It is an abuse of this power imbalance for a doctor to enter into a sexual relationship with a patient,” the findings stated.

“A sexual relationship, even if the patient is a consenting adult, may impair the doctor’s judgement and compromise the patient’s care.”

The tribunal found Ms Bastas’ conduct was “sufficiently serious” to justify suspension or cancellation of her medical registration.

In a statement, Ms Bastas said she was “disappointed with the tribunal’s findings and (does) not accept many of its conclusions”.

“I have served the community as a general practitioner for nearly 40 years and have always aimed to act in the best interests of my patients,” she said.

“While I acknowledge that boundaries were crossed with the best of intentions, I firmly deny any sexual relationship with the patient.

“My legal team is reviewing the decision and is presently preparing my appeal.”

Marrickville Metro Medical Centre in a statement said: “We note that while the tribunal has made certain findings, it has not yet issued any final disciplinary orders.

“Dr Bastas’s registration has not been suspended or cancelled, and she remains legally entitled to practise,” the statement read.