Tarragindi doctor Stan Theodoros barred over excessive pap smears, kissing patients
A Brisbane doctor accused of performing unnecessary smear tests, breast checks and pelvic exams and kissing his patient on the lips has had his registration canceled indefinitely.
Last year, the Office of the Health Ombudsman opened disciplinary proceedings against Dr Stellios (Stan) Theodoros, 74, a former GP and co-owner of Wellers Hill Medical Center in Tarragindi, in relation to 25 allegations of professional misconduct involving seven patients.
The allegations related to the frequency and clinical need for special examinations, including pap smears, vaginal swabs, pelvic exams, breast exams and skin checks, as well as inappropriate behavior, such as undressing patients, from 2002 to 2015.
In one case, medical records show Theodoros performed seven pap smear tests on a patient referred to as “DF” between 2013 and 2015. The same number of pelvic exams and vaginal swabs were also performed.
Clinical records revealed two more pap smear tests were performed in 2014 and 2015 (four per year), but no pathology report or record was found in the pap smear record.
Dr. gave expert advice on the suitability of Theodoros’ treatment for OHO. “There is never a situation where it would be clinically appropriate to perform a pap smear test at this frequency,” said Anne Ulcoq, rejecting the doctor’s explanation that swabs were necessary to test for sexually transmitted infections.
In the statement submitted to the Ombudsman, DF said that after Theodoros had a smear test in 2003, he opened the curtain and started talking to her “while completely naked” and continued this behavior on other occasions.
DF also stated that at every appointment, the doctor “greeted her with a hug and tried to kiss her on the lips.” He said that he often sent messages on his mobile phone and asked him to come for a smear test and check-up. He signed the texts written “XX”.
Patients “CJ” and “JB” received similar messages and were encouraged to skip the reception to make an appointment. One time in 2015, Theodoros texted JB four times a day to schedule a sample and a breast exam.
Many patients talked about being hugged and kissed by the doctor; Among them was a woman who said the doctor began “kissing her with her mouth closed” on the lips.
In another case, five pap smear tests were recorded between 2006 and 2012 in a patient known as “KW”, but many more were found, including six in 2012 and five in 2013.
Ulcoq said the testing frequency was against national guidelines and pathology reports and was “unfair and inappropriate”.
Theodoros also performed 34 vaginal swabs, 22 pelvic examinations, 20 skin and mole checks, and 20 breast examinations on the same woman over eight years.
KW detailed other examples of inappropriate behavior in his statement, telling the ombudsman that “on more than one occasion he suddenly bent over and put his hand on her breast” and removed her bra as she tried to cover herself.
In December 2015, a fellow practitioner made a mandatory report to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency regarding allegations against Theodoros. Action was taken by the Medical Board of Australia and conditions were imposed on his registration the following year.
Theodoros retired from training in December 2021 and submitted his registration in 2023.
In its response to the allegations, it said it “treats each patient with respect and dignity and takes a conservative/cautious approach in managing each patient’s health.”
The Ombudsman found that Theodoros had engaged in behavior “objectively, at the high end of the abusive range” and banned him from applying for re-registration indefinitely.
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