Sinha v Health Care Complaints Tribunal [2001] NSWCA 206

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Sinha v Health Care Complaints Tribunal [2001] NSWCA 206 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40124/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 22 June 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 September 2001

PARTIES : Dr Shailendra Sinha (Appellant) Health Care Complaints Commission (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Hodgson JA at 1; Ipp AJA at 15; Fitzgerald AJA at 16

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Medical Tribunal of New South Wales LOWER COURT 40001/2000 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Medical Tribunal of New South Wales JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P Byrne SC with E Pike (Appellant) G Furness with D Swan (Respondent) SOLICITORS : D I Brown (Appellant) Health Care Complaints Commission (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS - Professional discipline - whether error of law on part of tribunal - where finding of professional misconduct - where sexual contact between doctor and patient - whether correct standard of proof applied - whether requirements of procedural fairness complied with - whether details of tribunal's decision inadequate - where significant conflict of evidence - Medical Practice Act 1992, s165. LEGISLATION CITED : Medical Practice Act 1992 Bannister v Walton (1993) 30 NSWLR 699 CASES CITED: Beale v Government Insurance Office of NSW (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 75 ALJR 734 State Rail Authority v Earthline Constructions Pty Limited (in liquidation) (1999) 73 ALJR 306 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed with costs; 2. Decision of tribunal set aside; 3. Rehearing ordered; 4. Costs to the proceedings below to be paid by the unsuccessful party at the rehearing.