Gold Coast surgeon committed to trial on indecent treatment charges

A Gold Coast surgeon remains banned from practising anywhere in the country as he faces several charges of indecent treatment of a young relative.

A Gold Coast surgeon remains banned from practising anywhere in Australia amid allegations he sexually abused a young relative.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has been committed to stand trial in Southport District Court on three charges of indecent treatment of a child under 12 as a “lineal descendant”.

Two of the charges stem from an alleged incident at a Gold Coast home on July 30, 2022. The remaining instance allegedly occurred at the same address between January 1 and July 30 the same year.

The surgeon was arrested and charged a short while later, with his case slowly progressing through the courts since then.

Southport Magistrates Court was told during Wednesday’s committal proceedings that the prosecution case included 14 witness statements and nearly two dozen exhibits.

The surgeon remains on bail, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim or unsupervised contact with a child aged under 16.

The doctor was operating a leading Gold Coast surgery practice at the time of his arrest.

The state’s Health Ombudsman imposed sanctions on the surgeon after charges were laid before suspending his medical registration entirely, meaning he currently cannot practise anywhere in Australia.

The ban will lift if the watchdog removes the conditions or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal sets aside the decision.

No date has been set for the surgeon’s first appearance in Southport District Court.