{"id":629164,"date":"2026-03-03T12:22:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/629164\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:22:18","slug":"family-doctor-had-sexual-motivation-for-performing-pap-smears-tribunal-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/629164\/","title":{"rendered":"Family doctor had ‘sexual motivation’ for performing pap smears, tribunal finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Queensland doctor had a “sexual motivation” when he performed an excessive number of pap smears, breast checks and vaginal examinations on seven women, a tribunal has found.<\/p>\n

The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) filed disciplinary proceedings against former general practitioner Stellios (Stan) Theodoros in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).<\/p>\n

The 74-year-old was accused of hugging and kissing patients, watching them undress, failing to keep adequate records, and performing an excessive amount of pap smears, breast checks and pelvic examinations, with allegations spanning from 2002 to 2015.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros has been formally reprimanded and will be indefinitely banned from reapplying for registration. (Supplied: Trove)<\/p>\n

After the ABC revealed the proceedings involved seven women, seven more patients came forward with similar allegations<\/a>. A police investigation is underway, but no charges have been laid.<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros was removed as one of the company directors of Brisbane’s Wellers Hill Medical Centre, a week after ABC first reported on the allegations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, the former doctor has been formally reprimanded and will be indefinitely banned from reapplying for registration, following a QCAT decision on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

QCAT judicial member Julie Dick SC said Mr Theodoros’ behaviour was “objectively at the very high end of the range of misconduct.”<\/p>\n

“The conduct here involved seven female patients over many years,” she wrote.<\/p>\n

“The patients were vulnerable and trusted the respondent.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Patient’s memories ‘unreliable’, doctor argued<\/p>\n

Lawyers for the OHO argued Mr Theodoros’ “failure to provide an explanation \u2026 for the exams does not speak to a conservatism of approach, but rather to an ulterior motive, that is, sexual gratification.”<\/p>\n

The tribunal accepted this rationale, with Ms Dick writing that the conduct was “so far apart from what is appropriate professional behaviour that might be expected from a practitioner of (Mr Theodoros’) level of experience and training that it is difficult to come to any other view than there was a sexual motivation”.<\/p>\n

Multiple patients recalled Mr Theodoros calling them “angels”, watching them undress and attempting to kiss them on the lips.<\/p>\n

\"Deidentified<\/p>\n

The tribunal examined allegations from seven women. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)<\/p>\n

One of the women said the former doctor gave her presents of Mo\u00ebt champagne and would ask her to enter from the back door before the practice was open.<\/p>\n

“On more than one occasion he suddenly leaned in and put his hand on her breast,” the documents state.<\/p>\n

“He removed her bra while she was trying to cover herself up. He left the curtain open while she was getting redressed.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ms Dick noted Mr Theodoros had argued the women’s memories were “unreliable and untested” but said “it was he who chose not to cross-examine them”.<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros sent 54 text messages to one woman over a two-year period and texted her four times in one day about making an appointment for a swab and a breast check, according to the documents.<\/p>\n

\"Blurred<\/p>\n

The tribunal found that many of the tests and examinations conducted by Mr Theodoros were inappropriate. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)<\/p>\n

“The clinical notes … generally, say that the patient requested a pap smear or swab when it is clear from the text messages that it was the respondent who initiated the consultations or exams.”<\/p>\n

One patient received 34 vaginal swabs, 22 pelvic examinations and at least 16 pap smears in eight years and 20 breast examinations in seven years, including five in the same year.<\/p>\n

More women allege misconduct by Brisbane GP<\/a><\/p>\n

More than a dozen women complain about the doctor accused of performing ‘sexually motivated’ checks<\/p>\n

Over two years, Mr Theodoros performed nine pap smears, seven swabs and pelvic examinations and five breast checks on another woman.<\/p>\n

Ms Dick found that “in all the circumstances, the Tribunal is comfortably satisfied that many of the tests and examinations conducted on the three complainants and the other former patients were inappropriate, not clinically based and outside relevant guidelines”.<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros defended his behaviour, arguing he adopted a “conservative\/cautious approach to managing each patient’s health”.<\/p>\n

But the tribunal found this was not the case and that the doctor did not keep some records.<\/p>\n

“It is difficult to accept that a cautious practitioner would either fail to send pap smears to pathology or fail to record a result,” Ms Dick wrote.<\/p>\n

Tribunal decision comes years after allegations<\/p>\n

The matter reached the tribunal five-and-a-half years after the first complaint was lodged about Dr Theodoros by a former colleague in 2015.<\/p>\n

By then he was already retired, with the outcome taking almost another five years.<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros had attempted to have the QCAT proceedings thrown out, arguing he was retired and the allegations were from a long time ago.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Mr Theodoros co-owned a medical centre in Brisbane’s south. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)<\/p>\n

In a September hearing Mr Theodoros’ lawyer, Jeffrey Hunter KC, disputed that the conduct was sexually motivated and said what was alleged would “amount to offences of rape and sexual assault \u2026 in terms of exactness of the proof required”.<\/p>\n

Ms Dick said “general deterrence” was the tribunal’s “paramount consideration”, as was “the need to uphold professional standards and maintain public confidence in the profession.”<\/p>\n

Patients welcome QCAT findings<\/p>\n

Esra James*, one of the patients involved in the QCAT matter, said the years of waiting had added to the trauma.<\/p>\n

“He was fully aware that I was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Instead of protecting me \u2026 he repeated that harm,” she said.<\/p>\n

Ms James said many other incidents occurred that were never recorded in clinical notes.<\/p>\n

“I hope this gives other affected patients the opportunity to seek justice as well.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The women at the centre of his misconduct have welcomed the tribunal’s findings. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)<\/p>\n

Charlotte White*, a former patient of Mr Theodoros, said she was “disturbed” to learn the extent of the misconduct.<\/p>\n

“I am satisfied with the outcome, however, it is still upsetting and sickening to have it confirmed that … my GP, who I trusted, took advantage of my vulnerability for his sexual gratification,” she said.<\/p>\n

“It concerns me that this behaviour was so prolific yet there was no system in place to identify and flag this behaviour.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another former patient, Beverley Glen*, said she was “pleased” by the tribunal decision.<\/p>\n

“This has significantly impacted my life and has been very distressing.<\/p>\n

“I hope \u2026 this decision sends a strong and clear message to the public that health practitioners who commit professional misconduct will be held to account.”<\/p>\n

Do you know more?<\/p>\n