Dr Masoud Tabriz carried on a relationship with a former patient before and after he was married, the tribunal heard. Pic: Jono Searle Source: News Corp Australia
A DOCTOR carried on a sexual relationship with a depressed ex-patient for months while secretly engaged to another woman and even after he was married, a tribunal has heard.
Former Yeppoon doctor Masoud Davatgaran Tabriz took advantage of his ex-patient in a callous and dishonest way, counsel for the Medical Board of Australia, Chris Wilson, said.
On one occasion during their relationship, when the woman was bleeding heavily, he drove her to a hospital, dropped her outside and left, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard.
He later explained he had to get back to Yeppoon and there was nothing he could do inside the hospital.
“It was a callous way to behave,’’ Mr Wilson said, during a disciplinary hearing yesterday.
Dr Tabriz had prescribed medication for the patient’s depression and referred her to a psychologist before the sexual relationship began.
Mr Wilson said Dr Tabriz knew the woman was lonely and that she did not know many people in the local area.
“She was vulnerable and he took advantage of that,’’ Mr Wilson said.
The doctor, who practised in Iran for 12 years before becoming registered in Australia in 2010, kept his engagement a secret and did not tell the woman he was going to Iran to get married.
While in Iran preparing for his wedding Dr Tabriz sent the Queensland woman text messages and emails, suggesting their relationship was continuing, the tribunal heard.
“He returned from Iran and still didn’t tell his former patient he had been married,’’ Mr Wilson said.
“He continued to engage in sexual intercourse with her on at least a couple of occasions.’’
After the woman confronted Dr Tabriz about being married and the relationship ended she suffered major depression and was in treatment for two years, Mr Wilson said.
“She suffered seriously for this doctor’s professional breach,’’ he said.
After a complaint was made to the Medical Board in late 2011, Dr Tabriz lost his job and chaperone and supervision conditions were put on his registration.
The married doctor and father of two, 46, who now practises in Western Australia, accepted his behaviour was professional misconduct and was remorseful, the tribunal heard.
David Tait QC said Dr Tabriz had suffered a great deal, losing his registration, having to return to Iran to requalify, undergoing counselling courses and being out of work for 15 months.
Mr Wilson asked the tribunal to impose a significant period of registration suspension.
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren yesterday reserved the tribunal’s disciplinary decision.