A court has been told that a Hawke's Bay GP charged with stupefying and indecently assaulting patients is being monitored and should be able to continue seeing patients.
The doctor, who has name suppression, is challenging a Medical Council attempt to suspend him from practice.
He has denied eight charges of indecent assault and five of stupefying male patients in 2014.
A Wellington District Court hearing today was held into whether he should be suspended pending a hearing of the main charges in a criminal court.
His lawyer Harry Waalkens QC told the court the doctor used the permitted sedatives midazolam and fentanyl.
He said they could produce sexual hallucinations and the doctor no longer used them.
He also said the doctor was now working with patients in a "completely different demographic" under close monitoring.
The council's lawyer, Dale La Hood, said there was evidence of a persistent sexual obsession and the public required protection.
