A Victorian GP who groped and kissed the mother of his young patient while she tried to leave an appointment has been disqualified from practising as a doctor.
Shyamal Kanti Datta touched the woman's breast and kissed her on the cheek during a mental health consultation for her 11-year-old son in October 2013.
The woman reported the incident to police the next day but chose not to pursue the complaint because of the toll it would take on her and her family.
She went back to officers in 2021 after she read about other allegations against Dr Datta in her local newspaper.
The GP denied the woman's claims when it went before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in December.
But the tribunal found the incident did happen and it's had a long-lasting impact on the woman, leaving her with feelings of distrust towards doctors.
"Dr Datta’s conduct demonstrates a complete inability on his part to self-regulate his behaviour and warrants a serious outcome," the written judgment said.
The tribunal also acknowledged that Dr Datta was reprimanded in February 2022 for groping and kissing two of his other patients.
At that time, he was disqualified from registering as a health practitioner for four years.
He has received an additional one-year ban as a result of the latest offending.
"In the circumstances, we have no confidence that Dr Datta has taken or will in the future take any time to reflect on how his behaviour may impact his patients," the judgment said.
"We have no confidence that the conduct would not be repeated if Dr Datta were to return to practice in the foreseeable future."
Dr Datta's full disqualification runs through to July 28, 2027.
