Melbourne Psychiatrist Jonathan Brown Disqualified for Sexual Conduct with Patients

September 28, 2023

A Melbourne psychiatrist kissed a patient and told another “when you get better in your head your breasts will get bigger.”

Retired psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Brown has been disqualified by the Medical Board of Australia over his alarming treatment of young female patients between 2016 and 2018.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal this month found the 75-year-old behaved in a way which constituted professional misconduct.

On one occasion, Dr. Brown massaged the chest of a 24-year-old patient who suffered bulimia and bipolar disorder, court records state.

He also told the woman her breasts would grow if her mental health improved and made comments about her appearance including a summer dress she wore to an appointment in February 2016.

Another patient who began seeing Dr. Brown from the age of 20 was told by him “you’re very beautiful” and “why are you staying with this guy? Is it because of the sex?”

Dr. Brown surrendered his medical registration in June 2020.

On September 15, VCAT ordered Dr. Brown be reprimanded and disqualified from applying for registration as a medical practitioner for 18 months.

The psychiatrist does not intend to return to practice.

Source: Aneeka Simonis, “Sex pest psych banned,” Herald Sun, Sept. 25, 2023.