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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 921 ..

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MRS LITTLEWOOD (5.14): Mr Speaker, I rise today on a serious and important matter. This issue is one that I had not intended to raise in this place; but in light of recent correspondence, and comments contained in that correspondence, I feel duty bound to raise it this evening. In the Canberra Times on 9 February 1994 an article by Marion Frith appeared. The article was headed "Patient accuses doctor of sexual assault". I quote:

A Canberra woman who says she was sexually assaulted by her family GP during a consultation more than 20 years ago - and is aware of at least four other women who say they were similarly assaulted - is calling for others to come forward so a group complaint can be lodged with the ACT Medical Board.

Subsequent to that article and over the following months, many other women came forward with the same allegation about the same doctor. This resulted in 13 women being involved in the action and 14 counts of assault being laid against the doctor. I understand that there were, in fact, 17 women who came forward, but not all felt that they could proceed to take action in an ACT court. The matter did go to court and was thrown out because the doctor no longer held the relevant records.

Mr Speaker, as I would not wish to abuse the privilege of this place, to be accused of using my position to pursue a personal vendetta, or to use an issue of this sensitivity for any political gain, I will declare that I am one of those women. As I mentioned, Mr Speaker, I had not intended to raise this matter, as I find it distressing and distasteful. However, as a letter from that doctor was forwarded to my husband upon my election to this place, dated 17 February 1997, I feel duty bound to raise the issue for the sake of the other women involved. In that letter appeared what I determined as an admission of guilt and an apology. Although I am sorely tempted, I will not reveal the doctor's name; but, Mr Speaker, I would like to read into Hansard the section of the letter to which I refer. I quote:

I do stress, however, that it grieves me very much to think that I might have somehow caused pain and suffering to any of my ex patients by any of my actions. As you may be aware most of my ex patients always considered me to be a caring and compassionate doctor. I never regarded medicine as an avenue of achieving wealth but as a way to use my years of experience to help others. I really loved most of my patients. I know others may say I sometimes confused love and lust.

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