GP Maria Bastas has been struck off after having an “inappropriate, long-term sexual relationship” with the vulnerable man between 2015 and 2022
A doctor has been struck off permanently after she was found guilty of entering into a secret sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient who had mental health issues.
GP Maria Bastas had sex with the man in her car, at a university, at the back of a field and even at her place of work, a hearing was told.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Bastas from Sydney, Australia, to have had an “inappropriate, long-term, personal and sexual relationship” with the man between 2015 and 2022.
The tribunal heard the relationship began after the pair exchanged phone numbers during a consultation, before quickly escalating into private meetings outside the clinic.
The patient told the tribunal the couple had sex in the doctor’s car around two to three times a week and on the bed in her consulting room.
The tribunal heard: “They had to be quiet so the doctor nearby did not hear them. The patient said they also had sex in the car in the council car park in Petersham and at Leichhardt. Another time, they had sex at Macquarie University, in the back fields.”
The tribunal was told of one occasion where Ms Bastas allegedly invited her patient into her “huge house” with a “gym, a big pool table and bar” and “fountains.”
The patient alleged the couple got “drunk on red wine” and claimed the GP showed him her “garage full of shoes,” which he said held about 300 pairs.
Bastas also allegedly told her victim they would have to be “careful” due to her ex-husband’s house being in eyeshot of hers. The tribunal heard the GP loaned the patient money, met him outside work on multiple occasions and exchanged gifts including food and personal items. However in early 2018 the patient said Ms Bastas “started distancing herself from him.”
The man said after the relationship ended he became depressed and started to smoke and drink. After disclosing the relationship to his psychologist he filed a complaint with the Health Care Complaints Commission due to the inappropriate relationship leading to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Dr Bastas denied the relationship was sexual but admitted it became “inappropriately close”.
However, the tribunal preferred the patient’s account, citing phone records, witness evidence and the pattern of contact over several years.
It found these actions, alongside the alleged relationship, showed a clear breakdown in professional boundaries.
The panel said: “There is no place for sex in the doctor-patient relationship.
“Dr Bastas knew that the patient was an extremely vulnerable person because of information she had obtained as his doctor.
“The evidence from the patient is that Dr Bastas’ conduct has had a serious impact on him affecting his mental health, causing him ongoing emotional distress and confusion and impairing his ability to move forward.”
Dr Bastas was found guilty of both unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. On Thursday the panel cancelled her registration coupled with a non-review period of two years.
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