Retired Tasmanian doctor faces indecent assault charges

A retired Tasmanian doctor has pleaded not guilty to three indecent assault charges in the Hobart Magistrates Court. Michael Anthony Welch, 65, practised as a GP in Tasmania from 1984 until his retirement in 2019.

A patient who alleges he was indecently assaulted by Mr Welch two decades ago has told the court that he was frightened of reporting the incident at the time. The complainant, who was 18 or 19 years old at the time, said he went to Mr Welch for a 'sexual health check-up' because he was known as an LGBTQI+ friendly doctor.

"It was quite well known in the gay community that there was a gay doctor you could go to," he said.

The complainant described how the alleged assaults occurred during the consultation. He said that when he stood up for the first examination, Mr Welch indecently touched his genitals over the top of his underwear and flicked the waistband. When he was lying on the bed, Mr Welch allegedly began stroking his genitals.

"[I was] shocked … frozen, eyes quite wide," he said.

"He said to me, 'You're so cute, you're going to get me into trouble, I have to stop'."

The complainant said he didn't say or do anything while the allegations unfolded. When asked why he had waited until 2023 to report the incident to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), he said:

"I was genuinely frightened," he said.

"I was very young. I did not think anyone would believe me. Who is going to believe an 18–19-year-old guy over a doctor?"

During his evidence, Mr Welch denied the allegations and denied making any inappropriate comments. He said the complainant had asked for a sexual health examination, which he provided in a professional way.

"It was all within [the] constraints of a normal examination," he said.

Mr Welch said he had no sexual interest in the complainant and was not attracted to him. He said that during the examination on the bed, he was looking at the complainant to gauge whether he was in pain or discomfort.

The third charge of indecent assault relates to an incident where Mr Welch was piercing a man's ear. Mr Welch denied the allegation that he groped the man's penis and testicles when a part of the piercing fell into his lap.

The matter will return to court in December, when Magistrate Jackie Hartnett is expected to hand down her findings.