Dentist accused of pressing his genitals against patients tells jury deep vein thrombosis and a yeast infection forced him to sit closer to patients
- Dentist accused of sexual touching
- He operated in two Sydney clinics.
- The man has pleaded not guilty
A Sydney dentist says it’s possible he accidentally rubbed his crotch against patients while performing procedures at his clinic.
Bassem Magdy El-Badrawy Fouad agreed that it was common sense not to touch patients’ breasts during a procedure or deliberately press their crotch against clients.
It also understood that patients never consented to being exposed to the dentist’s thigh or crotch area when they consented to dental procedures.
However, under questioning by crown prosecutor Daniel Noll, Fouad acknowledged that he may have inadvertently pressed his genitals into the thigh, head or arms of patients while operating at his Mascot clinic.
“Everything was covered,” Fouad told jurors at his District Court trial on Thursday.
Bassem Magdy El-Badrawy Fouad (pictured at Downing Center District Court in Sydney) acknowledged that he may have inadvertently pressed his genitals into the thigh, head or arms of patients while operating at his Mascot clinic.
The 55-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated sexual contact, indecent assault under authority and intentionally sexually touching a child.
When presented with diagrams showing ‘up-to-date’ best practice positioning for dentists performing procedures, Fouad said they were guidelines.
“There is a significant distance between the head and what would be described as the dentist’s crotch,” Noll said.
Fouad said the diagram presented “the basic standard position”.
“The dentist has to refine the position based on the treatment needed,” he said.
It is alleged that Fouad frequently pressed himself against his patients and placed his dental tools in the breasts of the patients.
The 55-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated sexual contact, indecent assault under authority and intentionally sexually touching a child.
He has told the jury that his medical conditions — deep vein thrombosis and a fungal infection — forced him to sit in such a way as to bring him closer to his patients.
The jury heard that Fouad sometimes worked alone, however it was not his preference.
Rather, he was often forced to work without an assistant due to personnel problems with dental nurses.
The dentist operated at two clinics in Mascot where the alleged assaults against five complainants, whose names cannot be identified, occurred.
The trial before Judge Phillip Mahony continues.
