Dentist suspended for unwanted sex act

A dentist has been suspended for three months for having unwanted sexual contact with a saleswoman of dental equipment. File photo / Thinkstock

A dentist has lost name-suppression and been suspended for three months for having unwanted sexual contact with a saleswoman of dental equipment.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal today named the dentist, Dr Mwaffak Rabih, in posting on its website its decision on the penalties imposed on him.

The decision, including the refusal to grant permanent name suppression, was made last August, but was subject to appeals that were dismissed by the High Court last month.

The tribunal said the charge of professional misconduct which brought discredit to the dental profession was established.

The allegations included that Dr Rabih uttered words of a personal nature, to the saleswoman, kissed her, groped her breasts and pressed his body against hers.

He denied the allegations, although he accepted he had touched the woman's breasts, saying that it was with her consent.

The encounter occurred during a sales appointment at the dentist's Wellington clinic. Only he and the saleswoman were present.

The tribunal said, "The behaviour ceased and the salesperson left the premises in a distressed state. She did not refer the matter to the police until some days later. No official complaint was laid by the salesperson with the police. No charge was laid by the police against Dr Rabih."

The tribunal said Dr Rabih's lawyer had emphasised character references about his "integrity and honesty, his close-knit family, his being well-principled and thoroughly likeable, the wide appreciation that his patients had for him and the value of his community contributions".

"It was said that Dr Rabih's behaviour was a one-off event and there was an undertaking that there would be no prospect of repeat ..."

The tribunal ordered the dentist to pay $50,000 towards the costs of the investigation, prosecution and hearing.