Geelong doctor Atheer Hmood touched patients ‘sexually’, tribunal hears

A former Geelong and Kilmore doctor who “took advantage” of several women for “a hidden sexual purpose” should face an extensive ban, a tribunal has heard.

Dr Atheer Hmood outside Seymour Court in 2014. Picture: Rob Leeson

A doctor who touched five women for “a hidden sexual purpose” under the guise of a medical exam is a “risk to the public” and deserves a lengthy ban, a tribunal has heard.

Mr Ben Jellis, acting for The Medical Board of Australia, told VCAT that former Geelong doctor Atheer Hmood should be suspended for 15 years at a disciplinary hearing on Monday, May 29.

It comes after the tribunal previously found that Dr Hmood engaged in professional misconduct by inappropriately touching five female patients – including a 15-year-old girl – between February 2010 and October 2013.

The incidents happened while Dr Hmood purported to use a stethoscope to examine their breathing, with the first at Geelong Hospital and the other four during Dr Hmood’s time as a General Practitioner at Kilmore Medical Practice.

VCAT found four other allegations could not be proved.

Mr Jellis said the conduct that was proved was “very serious”, with one victim saying Dr Hmood pressed his “hard penis” against her backside during an exam while another felt him “cup and caress” her breasts.

“These patients were taken advantage of for a hidden sexual purpose,” he said.

“He is a risk to the public.”

Mr Jellis said Dr Hmood’s behaviour exploited the trust placed in doctors, and continued even after he was informed police were investigating the first allegation.

“He knew what he was doing was wrong, he did it anyway, and then he did it again and he did it again,” he said.

Mr Jellis said the 15-year-old girl had been examined by Dr Hmood, both with and without a parent present, and the inappropriate touching – which the victim described as a “medium thrusting movement” against her – only happened during the latter.

He told VCAT there had been “no remorse, no explanation” from Dr Hmood since the Tribunal found against him.

But Mr Reid, representing Dr Hmood, disputed this and said his client’s acceptance that his medical registration should be cancelled for a professional misconduct finding of this nature showed “insight”.

“It is agreed the conduct is serious,” he said.

Mr Reid said, given the allegations were previously subject to criminal charges of which Dr Hmood was eventually acquitted of, it was “not inappropriate” for the doctor to maintain the exams were of a clinical nature.

The dispute at the centre of the hearing was the length of time Dr Hmood, 49, should be disqualified.

Mr Reid said 15 years would “effectively” end his medical career “given his age”, and that he should instead be allowed to reapply for registration as a doctor in two years.

Dr Hmood was allowed to continue working under supervision – and with a chaperone for female patients – throughout the criminal and subsequent professional investigations from October 2013 until his registration was cancelled in January this year.

Mr Reid said the Tribunal should consider the patients helped by Dr Hmood during this time and the “high regard he’s held in by his peers”.

“There’s thousands of patients that he has successfully treated,” he said.

The Tribunal will hand down their decision at a later date.