It is understood a neurologist accused of molesting more than 35 patients in Victoria did not have any allegations made against him while working in Tasmania.
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Dr Andrew Churchyard, a Victorian-based specialist, was charged by police with indecently assaulting a patient in May last year and took his own life last month after more patients came forward with allegations against him.
Dr Churchyard conducted clinics in Tasmania and was visiting the state to conduct lectures as recently as last year.
There is no suggestion the Tasmanian Health Service was aware of the allegations.
Fairfax Media has reported complaints were made to the Medical Board as early as 2007.
Adviceline Injury Lawyers partner Bree Knoester, a lawyer working on behalf of the patients, said she had received complaints dating back to 2002.
Ms Knoester said she had been contacted by 40 Victorian men aged between 14 and 40 with similar stories of being asked to strip naked, having their genitals examined and handled and in some cases having their rectum digitally penetrated.
She had not heard from any Tasmanian patients of Dr Churchyard.
“You don’t need to be a doctor to recognise, for instance, no need for these examinations when someone is presenting with a headache, a back pain or a neurological condition,” Ms Knoester said.
“Sexual assault is always indefensible and I can appreciate it’s a shock for the doctors who worked alongside Dr Churchyard, and he was such a high profile specialist.
“It’s a shock for the patients as well. I’ve never come across a case with so many patients coming forward with respect to one doctor.”
Since the Medical Board complaint was lodged last year Dr Churchyard was required to have a chaperone oversee his appointments.
However, Fairfax has reported that the neurologist allegedly assaulted one patient behind a curtain while a chaperone was in the room.
The Medical Board announced yesterday a review into the use of chaperones for doctors accused of sexual misconduct.
Forty-seven of Australia’s 106,857 medical practitioners have chaperoning restrictions on their registration.
Registrations are detailed at ahpra.gov.au.
People with concerns about their care from a registered health practitioner can contact AHPRA on 1300 419 495.
