Doctor on sex charges will be named

Gavel

A doctor accused of stupefying and indecently assaulting patients will soon have his name made public.

The 40-year-old Hastings doctor lost his bid for name suppression today with his name being released in two weeks.

In Napier District Court today, Judge Tony Adeane lifted suppression but gave the man two weeks to file an appeal.

The doctor faces 13 charges including stupefying young men and indecently assaulting them, successfully argued for continued name suppression until next year.

He entered not guilty pleas to all charges and elected a trial by jury when he appeared in November.

The charges, relating to four complainants between January and September last year, are alleged to have taken place in a treatment cubicle, a toilet and darkened surgical room.

It's understood the doctor's practising certificate runs until February, however, the Medical Council of New Zealand has imposed conditions.

Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 a chaperone must be present at all consultations with patients. The chaperone must be a healthcare worker with no personal relationship with the patient.

The man must also log all consultations including a record of the name of the chaperone at each consultation.

The doctor had surrendered his passport at the time of his arrest.