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Vic doctor jailed for abusing patients, New Age, 14 March 2008

A Melbourne dermatologist has been labelled a "pig" after being jailed for more than eight years for sexually abusing 14 female patients. While expressing disgust at the actions of David Wee Kin Tong, two of his victims also slammed the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria for allegedly allowing him to continue practising after complaints were made against him. Outside court, Tong's victims said they were investigating taking legal action against the board for failing to act sooner when told of Tong's behaviour. One victim, Kay, said she and another victim reported Tong to the board in 2004 but nothing was done and he went on to assault and rape more patients. "As we've seen today there's 14 victims, it's just not on," she said. "They've (the board) got a lot to answer for and we'll be investigating that for sure." Another victim, Sally, labelled Tong a "pig" who had used his position to breach his patients' trust. "If there's any other girls out there that this has happened to in any other instance, don't go to the medical board. Go to the police," she said outside court. Tong, 40, assaulted the female patients over six years at clinics in Preston, Malvern and Clifton Hill. He pleaded guilty to seven counts each of rape and indecent assault over the incidents, which occurred between 2001 and 2007. Victorian County Court Judge Geoffrey Chettle today said Tong's conduct was disgraceful and extremely serious. He said Tong continued to rape and assault patients even when allegations of his behaviour were raised with the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria. The court heard Tong ordered the women to undress, then inappropriately touched them and used his mobile to photograph them naked during their examination without their consent. One victim reported Tong was "puffing and panting" during her consultation while another victim said he was shaking, presumably aroused. Tong told some victims he would not be held responsible if they failed to let him examine their genital area and they later discovered skin conditions. The court heard Tong was arrested during a customs search in May last year where he was found with 27 explicit photos of eight of his victims stored on his mobile phone. A police search of his house uncovered a further 120 photos of naked patients, mostly of their genital areas. Through their statements, the victims said they felt ashamed, upset, feeling violated and afraid to see male doctors. Many cried in court during the sentence. A psychologist's report found Tong had a depressive disorder, was psychologically immature and sexually inhibited and had longstanding fears of failure. It found his offending was not driven by sexual frustration but a distorted effort to obtain comfort from the anguish of his father's death. Judge Chettle said Tong was repulsed by his actions, remorseful and no longer able to practise in a career in which he strove to achieve. He jailed him for eight years and four months and ordered he serve a minimum five years and six months before being eligible for parole. © 2008 AAP.