Campbelltown doctor Hazem Chahoud’s registration cancelled after misconduct

The Cambelltown doctor tried to say it was his wife who sent inappropriate messages to the patient because he was “hopeless and helpless”. Read what happened at the tribunal.

A southwest Sydney doctor has been banned from practising for 18 months after he was found guilty of trying to kiss a 17-year-old patient.

The Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) prosecuted a complaint against Hazem Chahoud, a general practitioner who worked in Campbelltown, before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

It was alleged that Dr Chahoud departed from accepted standards of conduct and treatment in 2018, while working at a general practice in Campbelltown, and treating a young female patient (Patient A).

The HCCC alleged that he gave the 17-year-old patient his home address and also during a consultation in 2018, breached professional boundaries by hugging and attempting to hug her, kissing and attempting to kiss her.

It was also put that during the time he treated the patient, he failed to properly manage her complaints of bulimia.

It was also alleged that Dr Chahoud asked his wife to prepare a statement that she sent the text messages to the patient, with a view to mislead the Medical Council of NSW.

Court documents reveal that Patient A gave evidence that she thought Dr Chahoud might have given her a hug after she told him her grandfather died.

“He tried to kiss me and had his hand on the side of my back on the right side below the bra strap,” court documents said.

“Patient A said the Respondent tried to hug her twice. On the first occasion she felt ‘squeamish and tense’.

Under cross-examination, it was put to Dr Chahoud that he was prepared to do and say anything to ensure he kept his registration as a medical practitioner.

“Yes. I was under great pressure and my solicitor said it was impossible for me to keep the license,” he replied.

“My wife was not happy with that and she went to live with her brother and I couldn’t change my statement.

“I got a new lawyer and he advised me to tell the truth because that was the only weapon to save me.”

Dr Chahoud agreed that he told the Medical Council his wife had sent the text messages to Patient A after he had left his phone at home.

“At that moment I was feeling hopeless and helpless,” he told the court.

“I thought I had lost my children’s future. That is why I said that.”

When asked whether he agreed honesty was an important characteristic for a medical practitioner Dr Chahoud said it was the “biggest lesson I have learned from those four years”.

“I definitely did wrong. My three children are at uni and because of what I did they have to leave their studies,” he said.

“I suffered a lot because of that.”

In the judgement it said it was a “tragic case illustrating the desperate actions of a medical practitioner” who realised he had crossed boundaries between doctor and patient “to protect the health and safety of both that patient and the public at large”.

In March 2022 the Tribunal found the complaints proven and that Dr Chahoud was guilty of professional misconduct.

Dr Chahoud’s registration was cancelled and the orders prevent him from seeking to have that order lifted for a period of 18 months.