Vic: Tribunal upholds sex assault doctor ban
MELBOURNE, Aug 20 AAP - A Victorian doctor who indecently assaulted female patientsand a chaperone sent to supervise him today lost an appeal to continue practising.
Dr Albert Habib Joseph was banned from practising by the Medical Practitioners Boardin April after being found guilty of assaulting eight women in 2001.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal today rejected an appeal by Dr Josephagainst the board's decision.
The assaults occurred while Dr Joseph was working in the Latrobe Valley from 1997 to 1999.
After the abuse was reported by the patients, the board had allowed Dr Joseph to keepworking with women under the supervision of a chaperone - but he also assaulted her.
VCAT deputy president Sandra Davis upheld the board's decision to cancel his registration,saying there was a "significant risk" Dr Joseph would offend again if he continued topractice.
Ms Davis agreed with the board that the Iraqi-born doctor's conduct could not be whollyexplained by cultural confusion and mental illness.
Dr Joseph had blamed post-traumatic stress from his experiences in Iraq before migratingto Australia in 1997 for his behaviour.
Ms Davis said he had also shown limited remorse and had not understood the significanceof his conduct.
Dr Joseph was given a three-year suspended jail term in 2001 after pleading guiltyin the County Court to 11 counts of indecent assault.
After today's VCAT ruling, a spokesman for the Medical Practitioners Board said DrJoseph had no further avenues for appeal, but could reapply for registration in the futureif he could demonstrate he was no longer a risk to the community.
AAP svm/gfr/maur/bwl
KEYWORD: JOSEPH
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