Physiotherapist permanently disqualified for professional misconduct

05 Dec 2014

Mr Bharath Devadas - permanently disqualified from applying for registration as a physiotherapist.

Addendum to media release

The tribunal handed down its reasons for its decision on 10 October, finding unanimously that Mr Devadas’ conduct constituted professional misconduct. The tribunal recognised that the victim suffered greatly as a result of this crime, and that her anguish was compounded by a criminal trial, which was needed because Mr Devadas did not admit guilt.

The tribunal permanently disqualified Mr Devadas from registration because his conduct was so serious and inconsistent with what is expected of a physiotherapist.

The reasons for the decision are on the AustLII website.

Original media release published 16 Jul 2014

The South Australian Health Practitioners Tribunal has ordered that physiotherapist Mr Bharath Devadas be permanently disqualified from applying for registration as a physiotherapist in Australia.

The Physiotherapy Board of Australia prosecuted its case against Mr Devadas in the tribunal, after he was convicted of rape in late 2012. When he was charged in 2011 and pending the tribunal hearing, the SA Board of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia had restricted Mr Devadas’ registration and prevented him from consulting with female patients.

Mr Devadas failed to appear at the tribunal hearing on 11 July 2014, and the tribunal ordered that the matter proceed ex parte.

The tribunal ordered the:

• victim’s name be suppressed from publication
• respondent be reprimanded in the strongest terms
• respondent be disqualified from applying for registration as a physiotherapist on a permanent basis
• respondent be prohibited from providing physiotherapy services on a permanent basis, and
• respondent contribute to the complainant’s costs of and incidental to the within proceedings.

The tribunal will hand down formal reasons for decision on 10 October at 10.25am.

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

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