The Herald Sun can reveal that Asen Ivanov, 37, is facing multiple charges of rape after a judge refused to grant him a further gag order.
Mr Ivanov, who was working at The Alfred when the allegations were made, has pleaded not guilty and is set to stand trial next year.
His identity had been protected since May, when he won a suppression order on mental health grounds in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Under the terms of the gag order, the media was banned from reporting the accused rapist’s name, suburb and employer.
To extend this protection, Mr Ivanov had to apply for another suppression order after his case was sent up to the County Court – where his trial will be held.
But in a win for open justice, his application was knocked back by Judge Michael Tinney last month.
Since moving to Australia five years ago, Mr Ivanov has worked at two major Melbourne hospitals, specifically in roles held by surgeons training to specialise in heart and lung operations.
He was a cardiothoracic surgery trainee at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 2021 to 2023 then moved to The Alfred and worked in a similar position until late 2024.
Mr Ivanov no longer works at either hospital and his medical registration has lapsed, meaning he cannot currently practice as a doctor anywhere in Australia.
He worked at St George University Hospital in Bulgaria prior to his move to Melbourne.
Following a police investigation last year, Mr Ivanov was charged with six counts of rape and bailed.
He faced a three-day committal hearing earlier this year where the evidence against him was tested for the first time.
The prosecution alleges that the rapes occurred over the course of an evening the complainant spent at the accused’s home.
Loved ones of the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence about their recollections of what she told them in the days and weeks after the alleged attack.
The complainant believed, according to one of the witnesses, that she had been invited over to the house to enjoy some wine with Mr Ivanov, who she considered a friend.
But the court heard he had started to make unwanted sexual advances towards her before allegedly raping her several times.
The Herald Sun revealed the serious allegations against Mr Ivanov following the committal hearing, but was banned from identifying him.
According to charge sheets released at the time, he is accused of sexually penetrating the complainant’s vagina with his penis on four occasions when he did not “reasonably believe” that she consented to the penetration.
He is also accused of sexually penetrating her vagina orally and penetrating her mouth with his penis.
Mr Ivanov will return to court for a directions hearing in December.