AHPRA to retrospectively publish sexual misconduct findings against hundreds of doctors
A tribunal will not have to make an express finding of sexual misconduct for a statement to be added to a doctor's AHPRA listing.
Hundreds of doctors found guilty of sexual misconduct in the past 15 years will have the details permanently listed on their AHPRA profile from April.
It follows a 2024 decision by health ministers that details of serious sexual misconduct by health practitioners should stay on AHPRA’s public register “in perpetuity”.
State and territory ministers were responding to an ABC exposé on doctors who remained registered, or who had been re-registered, after groping or having sex with patients.
AHPRA guidance released last month revealed that the new rules would apply retrospectively to July 2010, affecting any doctors found guilty of professional misconduct where sexual conduct was “a basis” for the finding — not necessarily the primary basis.
