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Courts / New South Wales

Retired doctor extradited from NSW pleads not guilty to indecent assault

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CourtsDoctors and Medical Professionals

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  • A hearing has concluded in a Tasmanian court over indecent assault allegations made by a patient against a former GP.
  • Magistrate Jackie Hartnett will hand down her findings in court in December.
  • The hearing for retired doctor Michael Anthony Welch, 65, was before the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday.
  • In his opening statement, prosecutor Adam Godleman said the first two charges related to a complainant who was allegedly assaulted twice during a consult in late 2004 or early 2005, when he was 18 or 19 years old.
  • During the cross-examination by Mr Welch's lawyer, David Edwardson KC, the complainant was asked why he had waited until 2023 to report the incident to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

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A hearing has concluded in a Tasmanian court over indecent assault allegations made by a patient against a former GP.

Former Tasmanian doctor Michael Anthony Welch has pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations.

Magistrate Jackie Hartnett will hand down her findings in court in December.

A patient who was allegedly indecently assaulted by his GP two decades ago has told a Tasmanian court that he was frightened of reporting the incident at the time.

The hearing for retired doctor Michael Anthony Welch, 65, was before the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Welch practised as a GP in Tasmania from 1984 until his retirement in 2019.

Last year, he was extradited from New South Wales to face three indecent assault charges.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Adam Godleman said the first two charges related to a complainant who was allegedly assaulted twice during a consult in late 2004 or early 2005, when he was 18 or 19 years old.

Mr Godleman said the first charge related to a groin assessment, where the complainant was standing and Mr Welch was seated, and the second charge involved the young man lying on the bed while his penis was assessed.

The complainant told the court that he went to Mr Welch because he was known as an LGBTQI+ friendly doctor.

During the cross-examination by Mr Welch's lawyer, David Edwardson KC, the complainant was asked why he had waited until 2023 to report the incident to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 9.1 on the Niral Score.

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ABC Newsas they published this story 9.4 13 61 -0.2 35.5
Mundane Readneutralized from ABC News 9.4 13 61 -0.2 35.5

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