THE NSW Medical Council has ordered a former Newcastle University associate professor to stop performing major surgery only months after losing a battle to suspend him from treating female patients.
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Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Richard Reid can only perform minor procedures requiring local anaesthetic, after urgent action by the Medical Council early this month using its powers to protect the health and safety of the public.
Dr Reid has also been ordered not to treat patients in consultation with deregistered South Australian psychologist Marek Jantos, who was found guilty of gross professional negligence, malpractice and misconduct in 2007 over his treatment of a female patient.
The Medical Council took action against Dr Reid ‘‘in light of new information’’, after suspending him in July last year for breaching conditions placed on his practice. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal reinstated Dr Reid in October after he appealed the suspension, and despite opposition from the Medical Council.
Dr Reid must report to the Medical Council monthly with the details of all gynaecological procedures performed, including patient and Medicare details.
Dr Reid and Mr Jantos developed a ‘‘close collegiate relationship’’ from 1996 when Dr Reid returned to Australia after 19 years in America. An American medical board suspended Dr Reid for three months after finding him guilty of incompetence over the genital laser treatment of women.
The two men treated more than 500 women for vulvodynia, or pain in the vulva area. Dr Reid described Mr Jantos as ‘‘honourable, industrious, trustworthy, compassionate and reliable’’.
The South Australian Psychological Board described Mr Jantos as ‘‘evasive and contradictory’’ in his evidence at a hearing in 2007 before he was found guilty of gross professional negligence and deregistered.
Mr Jantos told the hearing he had inserted his fingers into a woman’s vagina during his treatment of her as a psychologist, a ‘‘treatment’’ the board described as ‘‘incomprehensible’’.
Mr Jantos had also undertaken ‘‘internal work’’ treatment of the woman in a cabin at a caravan park that left her traumatised, and led to a complaint to authorities. This week Mr Jantos said he worked as a ‘‘pain consultant’’, although he was not a medical doctor or psychologist.
The NSW Medical Council said it was actively monitoring Dr Reid’s compliance with the conditions placed over his practice. It confirmed the Health Care Complaints Commission is investigating complaints against Dr Reid.
Dr Reid did not respond to questions from the Newcastle Herald.
