GP, Calvary Hospital neurosurgeon assistant Dr Paul Thompson to be suspended for sex with patient

A Sandy Bay GP and neurosurgery assistant will be suspended over allegations he had sex with a “highly vulnerable” patient, bringing drugs and alcohol to a picnic. FULL DETAILS >>

• Sandy Bay doctor to face tribunal on professional misconduct claims
• Tasmanian women got boob jobs while awake and ended up with infections after operations by shonky surgeon

A SANDY Bay GP and Calvary Hospital neurosurgery assistant will be suspended from practice after he was investigated for an “inappropriate sexual relationship” with a patient during the 1990s.

Paul Thompson fronted the Tasmanian Health Practitioners Tribunal on Thursday, with Chairperson Alison Clues saying she was yet to decide the length of the suspension.

The patient’s lawyer, Tom Cox, said Dr Thompson instigated a relationship with the woman when she was a “highly vulnerable” patient in 1994, by bringing alcohol and drugs to a picnic.

Dr Paul Thompson. Picture: CHURCHILL AVENUE MEDICAL CENTRE

He compared it to another case of an inappropriate doctor-patient relationship, where the doctor was initially seen as a “white knight figure” but that circumstances “soured over time”.

He said his client has continued to experience depression since that time, which had exacerbated over time, plus other forms of “psychological harm”.

“No doctor should be in any doubt that they should not have sexual intercourse with a patient, whether or not the patient consents,” Mr Cox told the tribunal.

“It undermines the doctor-patient relationship … it’s an abuse of power.

“The consequences are infinite.”

Calvary Private Hospital in Lenah Valley where Dr Thompson is a neurosurgeon assistant. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Dr Thompson’s lawyer, Ken Read SC, said there was “no doubt” Chairperson Clues would have to impose a suspension, but said it had been “a single lapse of professionalism” and an “aberration”.

Mr Read read from references provided by three other doctors, which described Dr Thompson variously as a skilled and professional practitioner.

“This is not a doctor who can lightly be let go from our health system,” he said.

“There has been a single lapse of professionalism … but throughout Dr Thompson has maintained professional expertise and technical acumen.”

The single lapse of ‘professionalism’ has been condemned. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Mr Read also said Dr Thompson had demonstrated his contrition.

Thursday’s tribunal hearing came after the Medical Board of Australia conducted a professional misconduct investigation into the doctor, who is a Churchill Avenue Medical Centre GP and a surgical assistant at the Tasmanian Spine Service.

Previously, he worked at the Magnet Court Medical Centre.

Chairperson Clues reserved her decision to be delivered at a date to be determined.

Follow @ambervwilson