‘Grave concerns’ for public safety: Doctor suspended over mother’s death after abortion

A doctor has been suspended and a specialist taskforce set up after the death of a woman during a routine procedure uncovered “grave concerns” for public safety.

Australia’s health practitioners watchdog on Friday suspended obstetrician and gynaecologist Rudolph Gerad Lopes, who performed the surgical abortion on Harjit Kaur, 30.

Harjit Kaur, 30, died in January.Credit: Go Fund Me

Kaur died while in recovery at the Hampton Park Women’s Health Clinic, in Melbourne’s south-east, on January 12.

But the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) also revealed its investigation into Kaur’s death sparked wider concerns about other practices at medical clinics.

The agency’s chief executive, Martin Fletcher, said strong action needed to be taken urgently to protect the public while investigations continued.

“We are gravely concerned by the picture that is emerging,” Fletcher said.

“National boards stand ready to take any further regulatory action needed to keep patients safe.”

The watchdog said it had established a specialist team to lead a coordinated examination of the concerns raised, which it said involved multiple practitioners across a number of professions and practice locations.

AHPRA confirmed that it was working with the state health department.

Harjit Kaur, with her husband Sukhjinder Singh.

“While the coroner continues to examine the tragic death of a patient, our inquiries are focusing on a wider range of issues that our investigations bring to light,” Fletcher said.

The Medical Board of Australia used its regulatory powers, reserved for the most serious and urgent cases, to take immediate action to suspend Lopes’ registration.

AHPRA said it was unable to comment further about individual practitioners, or any investigations being undertaken in relation to an individual practitioner, while the probe continued.

“Patient safety is our paramount concern,” it said in a statement on Friday.

“Our investigation will continue in parallel with the coronial inquest into the death of a patient, respecting the integrity of the coroner’s critical work.”

The case has triggered a wider investigation.Credit: Michel O'Sullivan

“We are prioritising the integrity of our ongoing work and cannot provide further detail at this stage. We will update the register of practitioners if and when changes occur.”

Kaur, who lived in Narre Warren South, had just started a new job working as an IT executive at Nike when she died. She had been preparing to buy a new home with her husband Sukhjinder Singh to raise their two children, aged four and two.

Spokesman for the family, Suresh Rajan, said they were devastated, but relieved that an investigation into her death had been launched.

“This is exactly what we have been wanting from day one ... an investigation into the practices of this clinic and into this particular doctor,” he said.

Kaur’s husband Singh said in a statement he wanted to raise publicity about the case to ensure no other family went through the pain and suffering they had endured.

“We are so saddened. Our lives were destroyed in a minute. We would have desired that this investigation happened before January, before we lost our beautiful Harjit,” it read.

“We’re not sure how we continue to deal with the loss of a very, very dear and loving mother and incredibly devoted family member.”

On February 29, the Hampton Park Women’s Health Clinic was banned from conducting day surgeries and specialty services such as anaesthesia and pediatric care, amid ongoing investigations and concerns over patients’ safety raised by the health department’s watchdog Safer Care Victoria and the coroner.

This suspension does not apply to general practice services.

Health department officials inspected the clinic on February 8 and 21 collecting evidence and documents.

“We worked with nearby health services in the weeks leading up to the suspension to ensure there was as little disruption as possible to patient care and continue to support any impacted patients,” a spokeswoman for the Victorian Department of Health said.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the patient amid ongoing investigations by the department, Safer Care Victoria and the coroner.”

As a result of this investigation, the department is also examining similar facilities that provide surgical termination of pregnancy services.

The Age can now reveal that Lopes was reprimanded and had his registration temporarily suspended over serious sexual misconduct towards several women, while he practised in Melbourne during a six-year period.

He faced the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2021 over a spate of allegations, including that he told a patient her vagina was “nice” during an internal examination in 2017.

The tribunal also heard that before performing the internal examination, Lopes said to the patient words to the effect of: “Ha, I didn’t even have to buy you dinner first”.

The tribunal also heard Lopes made sexualised comments to a colleague over several years including asking to see her vagina, have sexual intercourse with her and perform a pap smear on her.

The Medical Board of Australia described his conduct as degrading, however, the tribunal ruled that cancelling his registration would be punitive given the 3½ years he had already been suspended.

Lopes faced the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2021 over a spate of allegations.Credit: Pat Scala

The tribunal said in its findings at the time Lopes had paid a “heavy price” for his professional misconduct.

Lopes told the tribunal at the time he did not intend to return to private practice in the medium term, adding it was “unrealistic” for him to expect to do so.

The tribunal said that Lopes must be required to work in a supervised environment under specific conditions.

“We conclude here that Dr Lopes is now a suitable person to practise, subject to appropriate conditions, therefore we will not order that his registration be cancelled,” the three-member panel said.

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