Nelson doctor before disciplinary committee after affair with married patient

Female doctor putting her hand on patient’s shoulder

By RNZ

A Nelson doctor is facing a disciplinary charge before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, after having an affair with a married patient.

The GP was the family doctor for a couple and their children before embarking on a relationship with the husband.

In 2020, the Health and Disability Commission said the GP failed to maintain professional standards.

In his decision Commissioner, Anthony Hill found the GP breached professional boundaries with the complainant's husband while he was a patient, and failed to comply with professional and ethical standards.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal will hear the case in Nelson over the next four days.

The doctor and her partner along with the complainant and her children have name suppression.