Wellington family doctor Deane Drew will be struck off the register after entering sexual relationships with four women patients while prescribing them addictive and psychoactive drugs. The Health Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal announced its finding of professional misconduct and decision to cancel Drew’s registration in a hearing in Wellington on Tuesday. He can apply to re-register as a doctor at any time, at which time he would be required to undertake a sexual misconduct assessment test. If accepted back into the profession, he would have to comply with all Medical Council requirements for three years, including the requirement to have a chaperone and the oversight of prescribing practice. Further employers would have to be told of the registration cancellation for three years. On behalf of the tribunal, chair Alison Douglass acknowledged Drew’s acceptance of the charges, his appearance at the hearing and apology. The finding of professional misconduct related to “both sexual misconduct, and in the prescribing of psychotropic medications to four complainants whom you knew were particularly vulnerable over an extended period of time,” Douglass said. Drew was fined $3000 and ordered to pay 35 per cent of total costs of the investigation and tribunal. Drew earlier admitted entering inappropriate sexual relationships with vulnerable women while they were his patients and he was prescribing them addictive drugs. All had mental health issues. Drew told one victim he “wondered if [they] would be lovers” during one consultation, giving her gifts of money, flowers and lingerie and taking her out for meals. Near the end of a sexual relationship with another victim, he texted her: “Please don’t lay a complaint as it could ruin my life and that would be pretty harsh for abusing your trust and treating you badly.” Drew asked another victim to go for a dive and a walk with him, spending time on his boat in the Marlborough Sounds. Sexual contact also happened during surgical consultations. Counsel Harry Waalkens told the Health Practitioners Medical Tribunal Drew deserved credit for appearing at the hearing and for being responsible enough for admitting guilt at an early stage. Most medical practitioners, facing such an “immense falling from grace,” would not show themselves at a tribunal, he said. Drew accepted a finding of professional misconduct should be made, with censure and cancelled registration. His lawyer argued he should not pay more than 25 per cent of the tribunal’s costs. Drew had not been working as a doctor for two and a half years, and was now living off life savings, Waalkens said.
