Plastic surgeon Ian Holten vows to clear name over sex romp claims
A plastic surgeon who is suing an ex-colleague over alleged comments about a sex romp with a patient has told a court the claims devastated him and made him a recluse.
Police & Courts
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A renowned plastic surgeon who is suing a former colleague over alleged comments about a sex romp with a patient has vowed to clear his name.
During the second day of his County Court civil trial, plastic surgeon Ian Holten, 60, said allegations he preyed on “vulnerable” patients for sex marred his professional reputation and led him to become a social recluse.
“It’s completely devastated both my professional and private life,” he told the court on Wednesday.
“There can be no more horrendous label than a sexual predator when you’re not.”
The surgeon said he had been dropped from a volunteer medical organisation that sent physicians to developing countries because he was seen as a “reputational risk”.
“I don’t go to the supermarket, I no longer teach trainees, I no longer teach nurses,” he said.
“I use any excuse to not attend functions, weddings because I’ve got this dread everyone is looking at me.”
Dr Holten is suing his former friend and St John of God hospital colleague, anaesthetist Eoin Fehsenfeld for allegedly spreading falsehoods and making defamatory statements relating to a sexual encounter Dr Holten had with a patient in 2014.
Dr Holten admitted having sex with the woman — known by the pseudonym Sally Porter — but denies allegations he did the same with other patients or that she was his victim.
The friendship between Dr Holten and Dr Fehsenfeld soured in mid-2015 with the anaesthetist allegedly telling the surgeon: “Sally Porter and I are going to stitch you up and get you deregistered with the board”.
In February 2016, Dr Fehsenfeld made a complaint to the medical board, alleging “concerning behaviour” by Dr Holten including claims he threw equipment in the operating theatre and washed his hands with alcohol.
Dr Fehsenfeld also allegedly made a false police statement, claiming he was assaulted by Dr Holten outside his house.
Ms Porter also complained to the board, alleging she had been in an 18-month sexual relationship with Dr Holten and they met while she was his patient.
She alleged the affair led to the loss of her marriage, children and family home.
But on Wednesday, Dr Holten denied the allegations labelling them “blatant false representations”.
He claimed he became friends with Ms Porter in 2009 through Torquay Cricket Club and she was in the process of divorce at the time of the sexual encounter.
Dr Holten is pursuing damages against Dr Fehsenfeld for defamatory statements, as well as injurious falsehoods.
The trial continues.
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