Marrickville GP Maria Bastas has been struck off for at least two years after a tribunal found she engaged in an inappropriate long-term relationship with a vulnerable patient.
According to news.com.au, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal cancelled Ms Bastas’ medical registration on Thursday after determining she had crossed professional boundaries with a patient receiving mental health treatment.
The tribunal heard the relationship began in 2015 after the patient sought care following a breakup and involved repeated sexual encounters outside the clinical setting over several years.
Ms Bastas denied having a sexual relationship with the patient but told the tribunal she regretted that her conduct had led to the proceedings and said she planned to retire in 2026.
“Dr Bastas knew that the patient was an extremely vulnerable person because of information she had obtained as his doctor,” the tribunal panel said.
The tribunal also noted Ms Bastas had previously been reprimanded in 2006 for an inappropriate relationship with another patient.
“This should have made clear to Dr Bastas that such behaviour was unacceptable. Instead, she repeated it,” the panel said.
Source: news.com.au
