A Blenheim doctor who unnecessarily intimately examined a South Korean vineyard worker and then altered his notes has been banned for 18 months and must always have a chaperone present with females on his return to practice.
Ravi Kiran Reddy Tamma, who has returned to India, worked for the Marlborough After Hours GP Services in Blenheim in August 2011, when he examined a South Korean woman who was working in the vineyards.
She believed she had a recurrence of a urinary tract infection.
Dr Tamma did not explain she could have a chaperone present and examined her completely naked, during which he touched her vagina and massaged her abdomen and legs, all while not wearing gloves.
He made no record of her breathing, pulse, blood pressure or heart rate and diagnosed her with a kidney infection.
The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal said Dr Tamma also changed his notes to justify what he knew to be an inappropriate examination.
Dr Tamma admitted he had breached professional standards.
The tribunal ruled he be suspended for 18 months and for three years after that he must have a chaperone present whenever he sees a female patient.
In addition:
- his notes will be randomly audited;
- he will be assessed by a sexual misconduct team;
- he must take a course on maintaining appropriate professional boundaries;
- he must pay nearly $19,000 towards the case against him.
Dr Tamma, in a letter from India, apologised to the patient for his behaviour. He said he wanted to return to practice in New Zealand but wanted to make sure he was mentally stable first.
Source: 3news