Last year, a former medical college president, the physician Dr Leslie Bolitho, was found to have inappropriately touched seven female registrars and medical students under his supervision.

Beyond his leadership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Dr Bolitho had an impressive professional history. It included an associate professorship at the University of Melbourne, and an AM for services to medicine.

So the power differential between him and his targets was steep.

He was accused of inappropriately touching them on their backs, shoulders, leg and/or bottom without consent. The alleged conduct, which spanned years, is said to have occurred not only on work premises but also at a work-related event, a farewell dinner.