An award-winning doctor who started dating a patient he had treated for an attempted suicide has been suspended for six months. The Health Practitioners Tribunal found that the doctor had committed professional misconduct by responding to the woman’s social media message and beginning a sexual relationship shortly afterwards. The doctor was working at the Flinders Medical Centre emergency department in May 2016 when the patient was brought in after an attempted overdose. She was treated by the doctor and classified as a moderate suicide risk before being admitted to the Mental Health Short Stay Unit as an inpatient. On May 11, the patient sent the doctor a message over social media and the next day transferred to Noarlunga Hospital. The doctor replied to the message and the pair begun sending naked and sexual images to each other. On May 16, the pair met at a hotel room and begun a sexual relationship which would last until October 2016. After that time they continued seeing each other for several months as friends. The doctor was accused of “exploiting patient vulnerabilities” after treating her on one occasion.
