A leading doctor has failed in his legal bid to lift his suspension under emergency powers for starting a relationship with a woman he first met while working as Tasmania’s chief psychiatrist.

The suspension of Dr Aaron Groves — who had previously been chief psychiatrist in SA, WA and Queensland — was revealed last month after the Tasmanian Department of Health stood him down from his role.

At the time, AHPRA and the department refused to explain the reasons. 

But Dr Groves took the case to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, arguing that his suspension was unfair and should be lifted until a full hearing into the allegations against him.