A fertility doctor terminated for being rude to patients and staff has lost a $3.8 million case against the corporate that fired her, Primary Health Care.

Primary had bought the doctor’s Sydney practice for $1.4 million in 2014 under its Primary IVF brand.

Under the deal, the doctor signed a seven-year contract to work at two bulk-billing clinics, with a clause in the contract that required her to “act in a harmonious way with other practitioners and staff”.

However, the Supreme Court of NSW heard that complaints about her behaviour towards staff and patients began “almost from the outset”.