This is brilliant. Having being heavily involved in all of this for the past 6 years, I have very strong feelings about it. It is not just done the crime, done the time, all is now OK. Character doesn't change. Steph
Gosh. Thanks for being here. And the comment. I can be pretty slow with names and who people "are" in the Webworm community, so sorry I have not thanked you for being here in the past. You and your work rock.
Thank you for all of your hard work over the past few years. I truly believe that what have achieved following the news breaking all those years ago has had and will continue to have a transformative effect on the legal industry.
And don’t feel intimidated when James goes and looks at your LinkedIn profile because the Law Society sent him your objection. We are watching you too, e hoa.
Bad song choice too 🤡 - Edit: So this is a tagged photo with his friends - I’m not sure what actually is so bad about his IG? I feel like I’m missing some context ?
As a partner at a reasonably large firm, I get sick of people using stress and alcohol as an excuse for poor behaviour. We have stress and, yes, at times I may have another glass at the end of a stressful day. It is not an excuse for ANY of the behaviour that occured.
If a lawyer is not able to manage their own actions, or their intake of alcohol knowing it will impact their actions, are they someone who should be handling legal matters? My view is no.
It has been 10 years since the events that kicked this all off, and it is possible that, since then, he has improved and knows his own limitations, and should have another opportunity. It will be up to the law society, and nobody should be without redemption. However, the photos don't paint the best picture for him to claim he has changed
Hey Arran - thanks for this. I know we all have different ways of coping with stress - but yeah, I get pretty stressed and I definitely drink: But I don't do that shit.
AND we have a Dr Salil Elias who FINALLY admitted to multiple sexual encounters in his clinic room with a mentally unwell, drug dependant patient, PRACTISING AGAIN! I'm in disbelief. It is NOT acceptable by any stretch of any bloody thing that he be in a position of trust EVER again, in a field where patients are ALWAYS vulnerable to one degree or another! What the hell is going on???
Wtf. I am a mental health nurse and I am shocked by what you have reported. The people I support, in fact everyone needs to be protected from these predators.
As a survivor: No. No no no NO. This is exactly why I don't want to go back out into the world again, get a job again - because people like him are out there. Allowed to be out there despite past shit behavior. And totally agree with Lydia that the last pic is chilling.
Again the seriousness of this offending is minimised. People like him never change…they just become more clever at covering up their disgusting behaviour. He should be struck off and NEVER be able to practise again. Go well Nicky.
As a person who has worked with people affected by sexual violence for more than 30 years I believe we will only turn the tide on this blight when people are better informed about the harm done and the routes to both recovery and rehabilitation. I believe that behaviour change is possible and this is clear in the evidence. With specialist treatment many people who engage in harmful sexual behaviour can learn to stop that behaviour. The article here gives me no confidence whatsoever that the person in question has changed. To stop SV occurring we need people to be held to account and undergo treatment. Transparency is important as is treating people harmed with respect and dignity. Victim blaming and shaming is hugely damaging and often borne out of ignorance about the dynamics of SV. Let’s all learn more so we can all work to eliminate SV in our whenua.
This is wild!!! Thank you for posting; time to start submitting comments on why he remains unfit to practice! In my opinion he was chosen as the fall guy (he is still disgusting) - it is just that there were many more there who were just as bad / much worse who should also be struck off. But also that batch of law students were far braver than the ones before them and they got something done. They saved so many that would have come after them had they been too scared to speak up. During the inquisition into the culture of the firm they limited those who could respond and be interviewed to people who were living in New Zealand - which likely cut off more than 85% on a rough estimate of those who had been impacted. It also focussed on lawyers and not support staff; why they decided that the legal secretaries who were being told to book hotel rooms for lunchtime while the summer clerks were in is just part of the ‘we’re looking into it but making sure the true depths aren’t uncovered’ mentality.
Sorry for my rant. He should never be allowed to practice again.
I tend towards not flaming people on Instagram (although I get the temptation, and I may have left comments on megachurch pastors accounts in the past). I think comments to the Law Society are probably more apt.
So this type of comment I find really interesting and I am not being flippant so hope you do not take it this way as I’m actually interested in what your thoughts are here - it seems like every time GBV is mentioned related to someone else/a different situation, there are comments from Americans and non-Americans (across different platforms/mediums) who bring it back to Trump and I am curious why that is? I’m not expecting you to have that answer on behalf of the masses or anything but I am curious if you or anyone has any thoughts. I don’t think the folks who do it are being insincere in their stance against GBV but it feels like it’s almost compulsive. It can’t be new information for almost anyone and GBV is certainly not a partisan issue - Andrew Cuomo is back running for Mayor of NYC and he’s still trying to smash the women he sexually harassed in court. Do folks remember that? When victim-survivors had to speak up against Robbie Kaplan and Tina Tchen and force their resignations from Time’s Up after they helped smear the Cuomo victims? They also seem to be doing okay these days. Tina is on the board of Civic Nation, Michelle Obama’s nonprofit. And Robbie was E. Jean Carroll’s attorney. Of course, I believe EJC, a jury found Trump liable but that’s a nice contingency fee on $84M. I’m sure Robbie doesn’t need it after whatever money she made off the Weinstein BS. Do we need to mention Bill Clinton too? Truly evil. I find it very important to acknowledge this all consistently because all victim-survivors need to know their abuse is just as valid as anyone else’s and they’ll be believed and have support when needed. Thanks in advance for letting me do a little mini dissertation here 🙃
No. He is entitled to second chances in other employment. A barrister and solicitor is an official of the High Court. Let’s reserve that for those whose conduct is above reproach.
Ah, poor man...it's all in the past. Can't we move on?
That's what some of my friends are saying about my abusive former husband, who has been engaged in a charm offensive. If there are no marks, apparently there's no injury. Me Too was a flash in the pan. Women still get harassed and pressured by men in power. I have to say that I have renewed respect for the Law Society that they wanted this mn struck off in the first place.
Just go and get another job. At worst I suggest that he does what every other aspiring lawyer has to do: start as an intern under the scrutiny of other lawyers, and they can see if he's to be trusted, or is still an entitled boor.
Sorry to hear about those lines from friends, Annie. Ugh. I think MeToo was a flash in the pan, and think we do need to stay on stop of this stuff. Or at least in small cases like this I am trying to, a little.
I love that you are trying to stay on top of it within your capacity, David. It looks like the part of Me Too that works is the initial outrage, probably mostly because people love a bit of drama. It's the rest of the process that we are yet to figure out - meaningful accountability, reparations, education, rehabilitation. I think some anti Me Too people see this as victims just being in it for the drama, when it's really the opposite - media is just often the only way to get anyone to give a fuck. It's not our fault that there is no structure in place to actually bring about satisfying change from there.
I try so hard not to vent in this space... ! Thank you for creating a rare safe space for victims to respond to things like this.
You vent all you want! I highly recommend listening to Tarana Burke’s interview on Monica Lewinsky’s new podcast, Reclaiming, that came out a few weeks ago. The whole podcast is amazing but Tarana gives a brief background of Me Too and #metoo at the beginning of the episode - there were 12M responses and it’s one of the biggest hashtags ever. It was and is a vehicle for connection - I know you know all of this so this info is more for everyone else 🙃
That’s terrible to hear, Annie, and I’ve been there and hope you’ve got some other good support. True friends should not compound abuse and trauma. It is jarring to realize some friends you thought of as “ride or die” clearly didn’t understand the assignment. It can be healthy to step away from these folks too even if it’s temporary.
As far as #metoo, I don’t really look at it as a movement but an ongoing way to connect. I don’t think we’d have this comments section with the Worms if folks didn’t care and want to discuss. And we all believe you.
The way folks minds work when confronted with IPV is wild but as friends it’s also their role to research or seek help from somewhere else if they don’t understand something. They may not totally understand your trauma but making it worse is not something they should be doing.
Hmmm man uses his position of power to sexually harass people, and now wants that position of power back? Whatever might he do if he does get reinstated, what a mystery no one could predict at all...
At this point I would love to know if there are ANY examples in the history of humankind where one of these men actually learns a damn thing and becomes not a POS.
Yesterday I chatted with someone on BlueSky about a similar case but with a doctor who had used his position to have sex with a vulnerable patient and lied about it when a complaint was laid. He was censured by the medical authorities and after a break is now practicing again but can only treat women with a chaperone present. Cases like that occur too often before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
Intellectually I support the ideas of redemption and rehabilitation. As a vulnerable patient or a vulnerable law client I would find it hard to trust anyone who had deliberately exploited others. I'm glad I don't have to rule on the future careers of these offenders knowing that the divide between professional re-entry and lifelong disgrace can be narrow. If they can't practice, what does the future hold for them? If they practice again have they reformed and ceased to be a risk to others?
And yet when looking back through Dr Elias' career we can also see earlier times where he has shared his own vulnerability acknowledging struggles with depression and his wish to encourage men to seek help. See 2010 story on Movember.
This doesn't excuse his sexually controlling behaviour between 2012 and 2016. In 2025 what may be important too, is who is he now? Has he learned? How will the current focus on past deeds impact on his patients, some of whom may have few alternative choices? How is the medical practice handling this public attention?
This is mortifying! Imagine showing up to your doctors appointment and wondering why there is a 3rd party in the room, supervising your doctor, to prevent him from hurting you….there is surely no instance where a woman wouldn’t want to turn around and high tail it out of there.
It's not uncommon for a nurse or student to be present in a consultation, usually with permission. This may sometimes be for training purposes. The patient may not know why the person is there. If they act professionally it shouldn't be a problem.
I’m all for training purposes, in my experience I have always been asked for my consent in advance in these situations. I would be extremely concerned if no one explained in advance why the doctor I was seeing was being chaperoned and not given the choice to be seen by someone else. Especially as, I feel, that should be made clear to patients. Like many women, SA has happened to a lot of us, and given the choice, would not be wanting to see a doctor who had done that to a former patient.
Fair enough. I wouldn't choose to see a doctor with a history of sexual abuse if I knew in advance. One of my previous doctors has been struck off for similar offending. I was lucky not to be one of his targets. I am also aware of how under resourced medical practices are around the country. I changed medical practices because of offensive attitudes at a previous practice. I was lucky to find another centre to sign up to and have managed to avoid doctors, only seeing nurses or getting a prescription faxed to a pharmacy. Other friends with more complex health needs have faced challenges finding a doctor at a practice with vacancies. They say it can be a choice of bad or worse when it comes to finding a doctor with suitable experience, knowledge and attitudes.
I agree, the medical profession is sorely understaffed and finding a surgery/practice where you feel listened to and helped is another factor altogether. I’m pleased you’ve found an outcome that works for you personally 🩷
For some, seeing a doctor with that history wouldn’t be an issue if you knew they were going to just do what they’re paid to do, safely. I just hope that where surgeries are trying to tread a line between the needs of patients and trying to alleviate the stress of their colleagues by having another doctor available, that patients would have the opportunity to elect another doctor is it were made known. To be clear, I think it should absolutely be made abundantly clear to patients that their doctor has a history of sexual assault if they’re going to be allowed to continue practicing.
That was one of those articles that made me feel physically sick to read. Glad you are reporting on this. I realized back in 2020 when the journalist Alison Mau published my #metoo story from my time in the music industry that going up against power is impossible. Five years on and still trapped in the court system as a victim in two other court cases involving men in power from historical abuse and the defence lawyers in both cases are playing games (the latest game is to try and get her clients known and jail term and known 'propensity' to rape, taken out of the case via the appeals court). This has slowed everything down yet again. So to read more about a corrupt system that supports itself, well I guess I have run out of surprises.
🫂But still she persisted 👍🏾🥺 I know lawyers have to do their best for their client, but I wish female ones would turn down these men as clients 😵💫🤷🏻♀️
🤬 Sorry... I had to "💛" your post 🤮Just had a comment on another forum that Substack needs a 🤬 & 🥺 emoji so we can be outraged & sad to appropriate posts 🤷🏻♀️
We do need a better range of reaction options. I've been hitting the "care" emoji a lot lately, which says a lot about what's going on for the people around me :(
Let’s be honest - this is likely to be a lose/lose situation. Either his practicing certificate is renewed and he’s free to go back to abusing his power as a lawyer, or it’s denied and mainstream media and the “not all men” movement will subsequently paint him as a victim who has “done the time” and is now being unfairly discriminated against. Either narrative will feed into his self-serving view that his actions were not as reprehensible as the court and media have made them out to be. On the one hand the NZ public tend to appear outraged when women are harassed and/or assaulted.. on the other hand mainstream media outlets were happy to publish full page editorials attempting to paint a well known media personality who served just 300 hours of community service after he broke his partner’s spine in multiple places during just one of many domestic violence incidents as a victim when facts about his criminal conviction were being raised by women questioning why on earth he would be allowed to return to his position as an esteemed radio and television presenter - with him claiming this was unfair and defamatory as he had served the sentence handed down to him and therefore deserved to move on. I have no doubt the voices of conservative middle aged
men will again shout the loudest regardless of the outcome in this case - either to suggest their view that he did nothing wrong is supported by a decision to renew his license or to suggest a gross miscarriage of justice has occurred if the license is not renewed.
To mess with a famous quote, re the "not all men" whiners:
The vast majority of men aren't violent people, murderers, rapists or sex offenders, but the vast majority of violent people, murderers, rapists and sex offenders are men.
Thank you David Farrier for this journalism. The Otago Women’s Law Society Te Rōpū Wāhine Toko I te Ture has submitted in opposition to JGH’s application for a PC and we have referenced your article in that. Other WLA are also submitting.
This is brilliant. Having being heavily involved in all of this for the past 6 years, I have very strong feelings about it. It is not just done the crime, done the time, all is now OK. Character doesn't change. Steph
Gosh. Thanks for being here. And the comment. I can be pretty slow with names and who people "are" in the Webworm community, so sorry I have not thanked you for being here in the past. You and your work rock.
Thank you for all of your hard work over the past few years. I truly believe that what have achieved following the news breaking all those years ago has had and will continue to have a transformative effect on the legal industry.
And don’t feel intimidated when James goes and looks at your LinkedIn profile because the Law Society sent him your objection. We are watching you too, e hoa.
That last photo is chilling.
It kinda knocked me for a six to be honest.
Bad song choice too 🤡 - Edit: So this is a tagged photo with his friends - I’m not sure what actually is so bad about his IG? I feel like I’m missing some context ?
As a partner at a reasonably large firm, I get sick of people using stress and alcohol as an excuse for poor behaviour. We have stress and, yes, at times I may have another glass at the end of a stressful day. It is not an excuse for ANY of the behaviour that occured.
If a lawyer is not able to manage their own actions, or their intake of alcohol knowing it will impact their actions, are they someone who should be handling legal matters? My view is no.
It has been 10 years since the events that kicked this all off, and it is possible that, since then, he has improved and knows his own limitations, and should have another opportunity. It will be up to the law society, and nobody should be without redemption. However, the photos don't paint the best picture for him to claim he has changed
Hey Arran - thanks for this. I know we all have different ways of coping with stress - but yeah, I get pretty stressed and I definitely drink: But I don't do that shit.
Hear hear, Arran.
...nor does the rest of his Insta, tbh
AND we have a Dr Salil Elias who FINALLY admitted to multiple sexual encounters in his clinic room with a mentally unwell, drug dependant patient, PRACTISING AGAIN! I'm in disbelief. It is NOT acceptable by any stretch of any bloody thing that he be in a position of trust EVER again, in a field where patients are ALWAYS vulnerable to one degree or another! What the hell is going on???
For anyone who wants more info: https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360619030/gp-who-had-sex-drug-addicted-patient-practising-again
I'm too outraged to think of anything else at the moment so am emailing the Medical Council of New Zealand regarding this 'matter'.
standards@mcnz.org.nz
Thanks for providing the link David. I'm enraged I actually had difficulty typing all that.
Righteous anger is right. I am fucking furious about what you reported.
I sent an email to the Standards Board of the Medical Council of New Zealand. I hope they should hear from more people:
standards@mcnz.org.nz
What the actual fuck
Wtf. I am a mental health nurse and I am shocked by what you have reported. The people I support, in fact everyone needs to be protected from these predators.
As a survivor: No. No no no NO. This is exactly why I don't want to go back out into the world again, get a job again - because people like him are out there. Allowed to be out there despite past shit behavior. And totally agree with Lydia that the last pic is chilling.
Thanks for being here, Nicky. Hope this wasn't too "ick" to read.
Ick but necessary ick.
Again the seriousness of this offending is minimised. People like him never change…they just become more clever at covering up their disgusting behaviour. He should be struck off and NEVER be able to practise again. Go well Nicky.
Thank you - and I completely agree: struck off for life!
As a person who has worked with people affected by sexual violence for more than 30 years I believe we will only turn the tide on this blight when people are better informed about the harm done and the routes to both recovery and rehabilitation. I believe that behaviour change is possible and this is clear in the evidence. With specialist treatment many people who engage in harmful sexual behaviour can learn to stop that behaviour. The article here gives me no confidence whatsoever that the person in question has changed. To stop SV occurring we need people to be held to account and undergo treatment. Transparency is important as is treating people harmed with respect and dignity. Victim blaming and shaming is hugely damaging and often borne out of ignorance about the dynamics of SV. Let’s all learn more so we can all work to eliminate SV in our whenua.
This is wild!!! Thank you for posting; time to start submitting comments on why he remains unfit to practice! In my opinion he was chosen as the fall guy (he is still disgusting) - it is just that there were many more there who were just as bad / much worse who should also be struck off. But also that batch of law students were far braver than the ones before them and they got something done. They saved so many that would have come after them had they been too scared to speak up. During the inquisition into the culture of the firm they limited those who could respond and be interviewed to people who were living in New Zealand - which likely cut off more than 85% on a rough estimate of those who had been impacted. It also focussed on lawyers and not support staff; why they decided that the legal secretaries who were being told to book hotel rooms for lunchtime while the summer clerks were in is just part of the ‘we’re looking into it but making sure the true depths aren’t uncovered’ mentality.
Sorry for my rant. He should never be allowed to practice again.
His Insta is open - go nuts 😈😈
I tend towards not flaming people on Instagram (although I get the temptation, and I may have left comments on megachurch pastors accounts in the past). I think comments to the Law Society are probably more apt.
Here in good old 'merca, we give guys like that the keys to the castle. 🤦♂️
I fear NZ isn't that far behind. The speed at which Trump-style rhetoric has entered NZ politics is kinda shocking to me.
(but shouldn't be!)
So this type of comment I find really interesting and I am not being flippant so hope you do not take it this way as I’m actually interested in what your thoughts are here - it seems like every time GBV is mentioned related to someone else/a different situation, there are comments from Americans and non-Americans (across different platforms/mediums) who bring it back to Trump and I am curious why that is? I’m not expecting you to have that answer on behalf of the masses or anything but I am curious if you or anyone has any thoughts. I don’t think the folks who do it are being insincere in their stance against GBV but it feels like it’s almost compulsive. It can’t be new information for almost anyone and GBV is certainly not a partisan issue - Andrew Cuomo is back running for Mayor of NYC and he’s still trying to smash the women he sexually harassed in court. Do folks remember that? When victim-survivors had to speak up against Robbie Kaplan and Tina Tchen and force their resignations from Time’s Up after they helped smear the Cuomo victims? They also seem to be doing okay these days. Tina is on the board of Civic Nation, Michelle Obama’s nonprofit. And Robbie was E. Jean Carroll’s attorney. Of course, I believe EJC, a jury found Trump liable but that’s a nice contingency fee on $84M. I’m sure Robbie doesn’t need it after whatever money she made off the Weinstein BS. Do we need to mention Bill Clinton too? Truly evil. I find it very important to acknowledge this all consistently because all victim-survivors need to know their abuse is just as valid as anyone else’s and they’ll be believed and have support when needed. Thanks in advance for letting me do a little mini dissertation here 🙃
No. He is entitled to second chances in other employment. A barrister and solicitor is an official of the High Court. Let’s reserve that for those whose conduct is above reproach.
I do believe we should be held to a much higher standard.
Ah, poor man...it's all in the past. Can't we move on?
That's what some of my friends are saying about my abusive former husband, who has been engaged in a charm offensive. If there are no marks, apparently there's no injury. Me Too was a flash in the pan. Women still get harassed and pressured by men in power. I have to say that I have renewed respect for the Law Society that they wanted this mn struck off in the first place.
Just go and get another job. At worst I suggest that he does what every other aspiring lawyer has to do: start as an intern under the scrutiny of other lawyers, and they can see if he's to be trusted, or is still an entitled boor.
Sorry to hear about those lines from friends, Annie. Ugh. I think MeToo was a flash in the pan, and think we do need to stay on stop of this stuff. Or at least in small cases like this I am trying to, a little.
I love that you are trying to stay on top of it within your capacity, David. It looks like the part of Me Too that works is the initial outrage, probably mostly because people love a bit of drama. It's the rest of the process that we are yet to figure out - meaningful accountability, reparations, education, rehabilitation. I think some anti Me Too people see this as victims just being in it for the drama, when it's really the opposite - media is just often the only way to get anyone to give a fuck. It's not our fault that there is no structure in place to actually bring about satisfying change from there.
I try so hard not to vent in this space... ! Thank you for creating a rare safe space for victims to respond to things like this.
You vent all you want! I highly recommend listening to Tarana Burke’s interview on Monica Lewinsky’s new podcast, Reclaiming, that came out a few weeks ago. The whole podcast is amazing but Tarana gives a brief background of Me Too and #metoo at the beginning of the episode - there were 12M responses and it’s one of the biggest hashtags ever. It was and is a vehicle for connection - I know you know all of this so this info is more for everyone else 🙃
That’s terrible to hear, Annie, and I’ve been there and hope you’ve got some other good support. True friends should not compound abuse and trauma. It is jarring to realize some friends you thought of as “ride or die” clearly didn’t understand the assignment. It can be healthy to step away from these folks too even if it’s temporary.
Survivors4JusticeReform has a lot of great resources and great WhatsApp community I would highly recommend joining (https://www.survivors4justicereform.com/join).
As far as #metoo, I don’t really look at it as a movement but an ongoing way to connect. I don’t think we’d have this comments section with the Worms if folks didn’t care and want to discuss. And we all believe you.
The way folks minds work when confronted with IPV is wild but as friends it’s also their role to research or seek help from somewhere else if they don’t understand something. They may not totally understand your trauma but making it worse is not something they should be doing.
Hmmm man uses his position of power to sexually harass people, and now wants that position of power back? Whatever might he do if he does get reinstated, what a mystery no one could predict at all...
At this point I would love to know if there are ANY examples in the history of humankind where one of these men actually learns a damn thing and becomes not a POS.
Yesterday I chatted with someone on BlueSky about a similar case but with a doctor who had used his position to have sex with a vulnerable patient and lied about it when a complaint was laid. He was censured by the medical authorities and after a break is now practicing again but can only treat women with a chaperone present. Cases like that occur too often before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
Intellectually I support the ideas of redemption and rehabilitation. As a vulnerable patient or a vulnerable law client I would find it hard to trust anyone who had deliberately exploited others. I'm glad I don't have to rule on the future careers of these offenders knowing that the divide between professional re-entry and lifelong disgrace can be narrow. If they can't practice, what does the future hold for them? If they practice again have they reformed and ceased to be a risk to others?
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/support/related-agencies/health-practitioners-disciplinary-tribunal/health-practitioners-disciplinary-tribunal-decisions/
Yeah, a horrible example huh: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dunedin-gp-back-working-after-admitting-sex-vulnerable-patient
And yet when looking back through Dr Elias' career we can also see earlier times where he has shared his own vulnerability acknowledging struggles with depression and his wish to encourage men to seek help. See 2010 story on Movember.
This doesn't excuse his sexually controlling behaviour between 2012 and 2016. In 2025 what may be important too, is who is he now? Has he learned? How will the current focus on past deeds impact on his patients, some of whom may have few alternative choices? How is the medical practice handling this public attention?
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/doctor-helping-raise-mens-health-issues
This is mortifying! Imagine showing up to your doctors appointment and wondering why there is a 3rd party in the room, supervising your doctor, to prevent him from hurting you….there is surely no instance where a woman wouldn’t want to turn around and high tail it out of there.
I just despair.
It's not uncommon for a nurse or student to be present in a consultation, usually with permission. This may sometimes be for training purposes. The patient may not know why the person is there. If they act professionally it shouldn't be a problem.
I’m all for training purposes, in my experience I have always been asked for my consent in advance in these situations. I would be extremely concerned if no one explained in advance why the doctor I was seeing was being chaperoned and not given the choice to be seen by someone else. Especially as, I feel, that should be made clear to patients. Like many women, SA has happened to a lot of us, and given the choice, would not be wanting to see a doctor who had done that to a former patient.
Fair enough. I wouldn't choose to see a doctor with a history of sexual abuse if I knew in advance. One of my previous doctors has been struck off for similar offending. I was lucky not to be one of his targets. I am also aware of how under resourced medical practices are around the country. I changed medical practices because of offensive attitudes at a previous practice. I was lucky to find another centre to sign up to and have managed to avoid doctors, only seeing nurses or getting a prescription faxed to a pharmacy. Other friends with more complex health needs have faced challenges finding a doctor at a practice with vacancies. They say it can be a choice of bad or worse when it comes to finding a doctor with suitable experience, knowledge and attitudes.
I agree, the medical profession is sorely understaffed and finding a surgery/practice where you feel listened to and helped is another factor altogether. I’m pleased you’ve found an outcome that works for you personally 🩷
For some, seeing a doctor with that history wouldn’t be an issue if you knew they were going to just do what they’re paid to do, safely. I just hope that where surgeries are trying to tread a line between the needs of patients and trying to alleviate the stress of their colleagues by having another doctor available, that patients would have the opportunity to elect another doctor is it were made known. To be clear, I think it should absolutely be made abundantly clear to patients that their doctor has a history of sexual assault if they’re going to be allowed to continue practicing.
That was one of those articles that made me feel physically sick to read. Glad you are reporting on this. I realized back in 2020 when the journalist Alison Mau published my #metoo story from my time in the music industry that going up against power is impossible. Five years on and still trapped in the court system as a victim in two other court cases involving men in power from historical abuse and the defence lawyers in both cases are playing games (the latest game is to try and get her clients known and jail term and known 'propensity' to rape, taken out of the case via the appeals court). This has slowed everything down yet again. So to read more about a corrupt system that supports itself, well I guess I have run out of surprises.
I know you have been going through it for a long time, Jazmine. Can only imagine the level of ick you got reading this. Kia kaha. Fuck.
🫂But still she persisted 👍🏾🥺 I know lawyers have to do their best for their client, but I wish female ones would turn down these men as clients 😵💫🤷🏻♀️
Ugh. Gross people getting away with it again. Way to go, NZ. No wonder our stats for violence against women are so high when men can just wait for all the "silly hysteria" to die down. In related sexual predator news, Dr McSkeevy is allowed to practice in Dunedin again https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dunedin-gp-back-working-after-admitting-sex-vulnerable-patient
🤬 Sorry... I had to "💛" your post 🤮Just had a comment on another forum that Substack needs a 🤬 & 🥺 emoji so we can be outraged & sad to appropriate posts 🤷🏻♀️
I would wear out a facepalm one 🤦♂️
Me too!
We do need a better range of reaction options. I've been hitting the "care" emoji a lot lately, which says a lot about what's going on for the people around me :(
Let’s be honest - this is likely to be a lose/lose situation. Either his practicing certificate is renewed and he’s free to go back to abusing his power as a lawyer, or it’s denied and mainstream media and the “not all men” movement will subsequently paint him as a victim who has “done the time” and is now being unfairly discriminated against. Either narrative will feed into his self-serving view that his actions were not as reprehensible as the court and media have made them out to be. On the one hand the NZ public tend to appear outraged when women are harassed and/or assaulted.. on the other hand mainstream media outlets were happy to publish full page editorials attempting to paint a well known media personality who served just 300 hours of community service after he broke his partner’s spine in multiple places during just one of many domestic violence incidents as a victim when facts about his criminal conviction were being raised by women questioning why on earth he would be allowed to return to his position as an esteemed radio and television presenter - with him claiming this was unfair and defamatory as he had served the sentence handed down to him and therefore deserved to move on. I have no doubt the voices of conservative middle aged
men will again shout the loudest regardless of the outcome in this case - either to suggest their view that he did nothing wrong is supported by a decision to renew his license or to suggest a gross miscarriage of justice has occurred if the license is not renewed.
The Veitch stuff blew my mind.
(Some commentary here: https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/15u2l8l/how_did_the_nz_public_react_at_the_time_to_tony/?captcha=1)
Ick.
I totally see your point, but I do hope the correct decision is made in this case (whatever that is - I don't have the material he submitted).
To mess with a famous quote, re the "not all men" whiners:
The vast majority of men aren't violent people, murderers, rapists or sex offenders, but the vast majority of violent people, murderers, rapists and sex offenders are men.
Thank you David Farrier for this journalism. The Otago Women’s Law Society Te Rōpū Wāhine Toko I te Ture has submitted in opposition to JGH’s application for a PC and we have referenced your article in that. Other WLA are also submitting.