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An Otago University physiotherapy student who fondled a patient's breast has been ordered to pay a fine of $2000.
The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found Inayathullah Samiyullah guilty of professional misconduct after he admitted to touching a woman inappropriately during treatment for an ankle injury in September 2006.
Mr Samiyullah began the appointment treating her ankle as he had in previous appointments, but then put his hand under the patient's dress and bra, touching her breast before returning to manipulating her ankle.
The patient said she had been confused and had not known what to say as she felt she should trust Mr Samiyullah.
When she made a complaint to a supervisor at the clinic, and Mr Samiyullah was confronted about the touching he accepted that there was no clinical justification for touching the patient's upper torso.
The tribunal fined Mr Samiyullah $2000 after consideration of his personal and financial circumstances.
Because Mr Samiyullah was registered to work in India and not in New Zealand, the tribunal was unable to cancel or suspend his registration.
The Indian Association of Physiotherapists had already been advised of the event and the matter would form part of his professional record when he returned to India.
The tribunal ruled that if Mr Samiyullah was to attempt to become registered in New Zealand in the future he would have to undergo a psychological assessment and undertake training in ethics and professional boundaries.
If those conditions were fulfilled and he became re-registered in the country he would also have to undergo a mentoring programme until the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand was satisfied.
- NZPA
