![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/54551e42548c7ecf114f912286d4820d.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nMore than 100 past and current health practitioners have had findings of sexual misconduct added to their public-facing records under reforms to promote transparency.<\/p>\n
Most of those practitioners have had their registration cancelled, but 21 are still practising.<\/p>\n
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is reviewing 5,000 professional misconduct findings to identify which of those involved sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n
So far, it has identified 107 but more practitioners are still under investigation and will not have their records updated until later this year.<\/p>\n
Most identified so far are doctors and the highest proportion are practising, or did practise, in NSW and Victoria.<\/p>\n
Up until now, it has not been easy for patients to see whether their practitioner had any past findings of sexual misconduct because the register only showed active disciplinary sanctions.<\/p>\n
Once a practitioner served their sanction or suspension, any mention of their misconduct was removed.<\/p>\n
Following an uptick in patient complaints about sexual misconduct, last year all health ministers agreed to change the law so that misconduct decisions would permanently appear on the record.<\/p>\n
The law is retrospective and applies to all practitioners regulated by AHPRA, including doctors, nurses, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner says it was a massive task, but the process would be finalised by June. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said it was an important change to meet community expectations.<\/p>\n
“The relationship we have with health practitioners is a special one based on trust \u2026 we often go to those practitioners in a state of vulnerability, so when there’s a breach it has devastating consequences not only for the patient but for the system as a whole,” he said.<\/p>\n
Experts said the reform was a long time coming, with a major review calling for more transparency taking place almost 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
“Patients should not have to resort to Dr Google to find information about a doctor’s previous disciplinary or criminal record for sexual misconduct,” reviewer Professor Ron Paterson said in 2017.<\/p>\n
What will appear on the public record?![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f6d2f51126d0a3ee2956259b23767bfe.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
It’s been almost 10 years since a review called for more transparency.\u00a0 (ABC Riverina: Romy Stephens)<\/p>\n
From today, a practitioner’s searchable AHPRA record will permanently state if they have engaged in sexual misconduct and will detail any sanctions imposed on them. It will also link out to a tribunal’s decision when available.<\/p>\n
If their registration is cancelled, it will show how long they are disqualified for and if they can ever reapply for registration.<\/p>\n
Under limited circumstances, some findings of sexual misconduct will not be added to the register but Mr Untersteiner said this would be rare.<\/p>\n
Exceptions may be used when a misconduct finding has been modified on appeal or if there is a serious risk to the health and safety of the practitioner.<\/p>\n
What constitutes sexual misconduct?<\/p>\n
Sexual misconduct relates to conduct towards patients in clinical settings as well as a practitioner’s behaviour outside work.<\/p>\n
Examples of misconduct between a practitioner and patient include:<\/p>\n
Intimate physical examination without medical needEngaging in sexual humour or innuendoUsing social media to send inappropriate messagesDisclosure of practitioner’s sexual history<\/p>\n
If found liable, the practitioner may be disqualified or have conditions imposed on their registration, like a ban on consulting with women or children.<\/p>\n
Doctor examined women for ‘sexual motivation’, tribunal finds<\/a><\/p>\n A tribunal has found a Queensland former doctor performed pap smears and breast checks on women for ‘sexual motivation’.<\/p>\n Doctor and University of Melbourne law and public health professor, Marie Bismark, said many do lose their registration, but there were cases where appropriate protections could be put in place.<\/p>\n “Obviously, any breach of sexual behaviour is serious, but there are some cases that are more serious than others,” she said.<\/p>\n “If a doctor has behaved in a really planned and predatory way towards vulnerable patients, perhaps towards children or those with intellectual disabilities, that’s the type of doctor that would likely lose the ability to practise.<\/p>\n “But if you have a one-off case where a doctor touched a patient’s breast inappropriately, for example, and there were factors in that doctor’s life that contributed to that serious lapse of judgement \u2026 with appropriate protections in place, that person may be able to return to practice.”<\/p>\n