Two GPs struck off for patient assaults

TWO GPs have been struck off this month in the wake of criminal convictions for assaulting their patients.

Following a submission from the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), the NSW Medical Tribunal deregistered 46-year-old Rhafid Al Ramadan, who had been previously convicted in the criminal courts of aggravated and indecent assaults.

In 2006, Mr Ramadan was found guilty of injecting a female patient with an overpowering drug and then indecently and sexually assaulting her.

The HCCC complaint led to the deregistration of Mr Ramadan, and the application of an extra condition that he may not apply for re-registration until two years after his release from prison.

Meanwhile, the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria deregistered 64-year-old David Alan Bowen following his previous conviction of indecently assaulting two young men.

Mr Bowen was convicted in 2007 and has since served time in prison, during which his medical registration was suspended.

The incidents took place more than 30 years ago, before Mr Bowen was a medical practitioner, however the seriousness of the offences prompted the board to cancel his registration.

He will not be eligible to reapply for registration for at least 12 months.