Health minister says ‘patience’ over practising indecent assault doctor

Health Minister Michalis Damianos has called for calm in an attempt to quell the public outcry regarding the doctor who had been convicted for indecent assault against a female patient but returned to his duties having served his sentence.

Damianos called for patience until procedures were complete at the disciplinary council of the Cyprus Medical Association (CyMA).

“The procedure is at the CyMA disciplinary council, so we must wait until this procedure finishes,” he said.

The health minister said other countries followed similar procedures.

Iatriki Aspida (Medical Shield), a proactive group formed within the framework of the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (CyFPA) and in collaboration with volunteers and partners, called for the modernisation of legislation for those practising medicine after a conviction.

It noted that the return of the doctor “as if nothing had happened” made a bad impression and called for immediate action.

Regarding proposed legislation, Damianos said this was something to be discussed withCyMA, which would then have the legal arsenal to address such issues.