File photo. Photo: 123RF
Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse
Two health professionals have been censured after each indecently touching a patient.
The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has released the findings for two charges laid down last year.
Morrinsville osteopath Dr Joseph Crozier indecently assaulted a patient by penetrating her vagina with his fingers during treatment.
The tribunal found him guilty of professional misconduct.
Dr Crozier penetrated the female patient's vagina without consent and made sexual comments about her genitals and underwear during medical treatment.
The patient's child was also in the room which the tribunal said contributed to the seriousness of the misconduct.
The osteopath has voluntarily retired and moved away from the area, but the tribunal has deregistered, censured and ordered him to contribute to the costs of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Auckland physiotherapist Justin Scott was found guilty of malpractice after indecently touching a female patient's vagina while treating her.
He also obtained her private phone number and contacted her for reasons unrelated to his work, and sent inappropriate messages to another female patient.
Scott is currently serving a nine-month suspension and can return in March 2024.
He will have to complete an ethics course before he can treat female identifying patients and has to pay more than $45,000 towards the cost of the hearing.
Where to get help for sexual violence:
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496