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27 Nov 2023
A former medical practitioner has been reprimanded, disqualified from applying for registration for four years and ordered to pay $4000 in costs after having an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with a patient.
Content warning: Some readers may find this article distressing. If you are experiencing distress, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for confidential help. If you are a medical practitioner, please visit the drs4drs website.
In January 2023, the Medical Board of Australia (the Board) referred Dr Raymond Marchesi to the Western Australia State Administrative Tribunal (the tribunal). While employed as a medical officer at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) in 2008, Dr Marchesi started an intimate personal relationship, which included sexual activity, with a former inpatient of JHC identified as ‘Patient A’.
Patient A had a history of anxiety, depression and panic disorder. She had also been diagnosed with chronic dysthymia, with social anxiety, personality disorder and possible agoraphobia.
Just prior to the start of the long-term personal and sexual relationship, Patient A had asked Dr Marchesi to be her support person, and he had agreed.
Dr Marchesi agreed he had:
Dr Marchesi admitted to the conduct and the matter was settled by mediation.
All registered medical practitioners are bound at all times to comply with relevant codes and guidelines including Good medical practice: A Code of conduct for doctors in Australia and Sexual boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship. Dr Marchesi agreed that he had breached relevant codes and guidelines by:
The tribunal was satisfied that proper cause exists for disciplinary action, and ordered that he:
As Dr Marchesi had surrendered his registration in October 2021 at the time the notification was made there was no need for the tribunal to cancel his registration.
Read the tribunal’s full decision.