Perth ED Doctor Suspended, Fined Over Patient Contact
PERTH, Australia (AP) – A senior emergency department doctor in Perth, Western Australia, has been suspended from practicing medicine for three years and fined $175,000 AUD (approximately $103,000 USD) after being found to have sexually touched a patient during a physical examination in 2016. Dr. Kim Mullaley, formerly of Joondalup Health Campus, was found to have engaged in professional misconduct by the State Administrative Tribunal.
The incident involved an 18-year-old woman admitted to Hollywood Private Hospital for an eating disorder, and subsequently transferred to Joondalup Health Campus due to concerns about self-harm. Court documents reveal the woman was an involuntary patient under the Mental Health Act when Dr. Mullaley performed a physical examination despite her declining one. The tribunal determined he touched the woman’s vulva “when there was no clinical reason for doing so.”
The Medical Board brought the case before the tribunal following the woman’s account of the incident. The tribunal noted the significant distress experienced by the woman while giving evidence, describing her as frequently upset and crying.
Eight months after the initial examination, the woman reportedly recognized Dr. Mullaley during a subsequent visit to the same emergency department and alerted her mother, who then confronted the doctor, accusing him of inappropriate behavior.
The State Administrative Tribunal found Dr. Mullaley “behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct.” His registration was officially suspended until September 2028, and he was ordered to pay the Medical Board’s costs.
This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring patient safety within the healthcare system. The Medical Board of Australia has a responsibility to uphold standards of conduct and protect vulnerable individuals seeking medical care. This incident underscores the need for rigorous oversight and accountability within the medical profession.
[Reporting by Rebecca Peppiatt, March 25, 2026]
