Doctor Accepts Oral Sex from Patient

Australian doctor Martyn Mendelsohn, 49, from Sydney was accused of having non-consensual sexual intercourse with a woman during a consultation at his surgery in May 2005. The 49-year-old woman had claimed Dr Mendelsohn took advantage of her at his Hunters Hill practice. On the very day of the trial, the charge against the ear, nose and throat surgeon was dismissed. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that this, and another charge dating back to 1999, would not be prosecuted:

"The DPP says that on the available evidence there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction," the spokesman said.

That was not the end of Dr. Martyn Mendelsohn's troubles. He is now facing a disciplinary hearing in front of the NSW Medical Board. The Healthcare Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the matter. The board said Dr Mendelsohn would be free to practice but had certain conditions placed on him, including that he obtain the approval of the board before changing the nature or place of his practice, and that he have a third party, in this case a registered nurse, present while treating or interviewing patients.

The doctor has admitted to having oral sex with the 49-year-old woman in question. He however claims that she was the aggressor and was only showing him her gratitude for performing surgery on her nose after being hit by her boyfriend.

According to the woman, after the incident took place she asked her boyfriend to take her to the police where she accused the doctor of sexually assaulting her. She told police that Dr. Mendelsohn was kissing her, touching her breasts and ejaculating in her mouth.

Dr. Mendelsohn's story is a lot different. He admitted that he allowed his patient to perform oral sex on him. He told the commission that she had arrived late at his surgery after the staff had gone home for the day and was demonstrably grateful that he had agreed to see her. He said she started to get flirtatious with him commenting on his looks and hugging him saying, "You look after me, I'll look after you".

"He says she then leaned down and unzipped his trousers and performed oral sex on him. He says she swallowed his semen and did not spit." Mr Phillip Strickland, the commission's barrister, said.

The doctor explained to the tribunal that he felt "devastated" after the incident. He performed surgery on her nose, but refused to continue the treatment after what happened. The NSW Medical Board has the power to remove the doctor from the medical registry if it feels that his behavior warrants it. The case continues....