Doctor was found guilty of sexually assaulting patients. But he can still work as a GP

Dr. Deepak Shadilal Puri was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting patients in New South Wales, including incidents in Braidwood and Leeton, but the court heard he can still work as a GP. The allegations stemmed from two examinations between 2022 and earlier. On 17 October 2022, a police officer attended Wallace Street Medical Centre in Braidwood for a pap smear and later testified that Puri escalated behavior as she undressed, used one or two fingers during an internal examination, and made comments including that he had “seen a lot of vaginas.” Earlier, a 20-year-old patient at Leeton Medical Centre reported that Puri asked about her dating or attraction to customers and still performed an internal vaginal exam despite her saying she was not sexually active. The jury convicted him on two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent; each charge carries a maximum 20-year sentence. The court also heard arguments about a “dual purpose,” as defense sought a lighter sentence.