Legal action is being taken against Wodonga Tristar and a doctor who allegedly pushed his groin into a woman's hand multiple times, kissed another patient on the cheek and pressed his body into another client.
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Lawyers for a 60-year-old woman say she has been left with multiple issues including PTSD, anxiety and depression, as a result of his actions, and has been unable to work.
It's alleged complaints were made about Shyamal Datta's behaviour, which wasn't passed on to medical authorities.
Some of the incidents allegedly occurred after complaints were made.
Dr Datta denies the allegations that have been made against him.
He is listed as a defendant in a Supreme Court civil case, which also names the company behind Wodonga Tristar and its owner, Khaled El-Sheikh, as defendants.
The case will return to court on Friday for directions.
The 60-year-old woman saw Dr Datta during 2013, and it's alleged he asked if he could go out with her on a social outing, pushed his groin into her hand while holding her hand and arm, and on a separate occasion pushed his groin in her hand.
He allegedly pulled her hand onto his groin when she pulled away.
He allegedly asked where she lived, asked if she had a partner, said he was lonely, and said he should visit her at her home.
Law firm Harris Lieberman Solicitors says his actions constituted sexual assault while his comments suggested "sexual desire or the desire for sexual intimacy".
Complaints made to Tristar alleged that on June 29, 2011, Dr Datta asked inappropriate sexual questions of a patient, and placed his hand under her bra, feeling her breast.
During a consultation on October 11, 2011, he allegedly told a patient how pretty she was and kissed her on the cheek.
Another woman reported that on May 29, 2012, Dr Datta looked at her breasts, inappropriately placed a stethoscope on her breast, and pressed his body against her while measuring her height, made inappropriate comments about her weight and told her to stop eating takeaway and chocolate.
He allegedly asked a patient on October 7, 2012, where she lived and worked and if she was single, put his arms around her, and whispered "you are a good girl".
"If there is anything I can do for you, just ask and I will do it," he reportedly said.
Despite multiple complaints being lodged, it's claimed Dr El-Sheikh submitted a work performance report to the Medical Board of Australia in which he rated Dr Datta as "performing consistently at or above the level expected".
The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency has confirmed Dr Datta was registered until 2016.
The complaints raised in the Supreme Court civil case date back to 2011.
IN OTHER NEWS:
An AHPRA spokeswoman confirmed he had been referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which they said dealt with "serious matters relating to the conduct of health practitioners in Victoria".
It's alleged Tristar and its owner failed to heed complaints by other patients, employees, doctors or therapists and didn't take action.
It's alleged they failed to take steps to ensure he was a reputable medical practitioner and failed to take sufficient steps to protect patients.
Dr Datta denied the allegations in a defence submission to the Supreme Court.
He admits treating the 60-year-old woman multiple times but otherwise denies the allegations.
He said he asked her questions to ascertain her mental state and made contact with her to get a blood pressure reading and or check her pulse.
He particularly denies pushing his groin into her hand and pulling her hand onto his groin.
Tristar head office did not respond.
