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Ilkley physio fights sexual misconduct charges at disciplinary hearing
AN Ilkley physiotherapist is fighting allegations of sexual misconduct against four female patients.
Yves Dereix, 58, appeared before the conduct and competence committee of the Health Professions Council (HPC) in Leeds yesterday to answer various allegations that he behaved inappropriately with the four women.
According to a HPC statement, Mr Dereix asked one patient to remove her clothing without good reason, touched her in an intimate area despite not having consent, and made sexually suggestive comments.
He stands accused of similar complaints against the other three women.
Barrister Sue Sleeman, for Mr Dereix, of Beverley Rise, Ilkley, said the allegations made by the four witnesses - identified at the hearing only by their initials - had previously been the subject of criminal proceedings. Mr Dereix was charged with five offences of indecent assault in 2006 but the charges were later dropped.
Ms Sleeman applied for the three-day hearing to be held in private because of the notoriety it would attract. She said that Mr Dereix, who has three teenage children, had already suffered adverse publicity because of the court case.
She said he was a well-known member of a close-knit community. "This would impact on the private life, not only of the registrant, but on his family," said Ms Sleeman.
She said that Rotary Club member Mr Dereix was known not only for his employment as a physiotherapist but also for his charity work.
Judy Norris, appearing for the NPC, told the hearing that all the witnesses wanted the hearings to be held in public.
Hearing chairman Elizabeth Car-michael said the panel had decided to hear the case in public.
She said: "The reasons are a desire to reinforce public confidence in the registration process. The panel did not find any particular aspect of the case to be unusual or exceptional to warrant a private hearing."
The allegations cover a period of seven years between 1998 and 2005 when the women visited him for treatment including acupuncture for various pains and injuries.
Mr Dereix is a Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, a State Registered Physiotherapist and a Member of the Society of Orthopeadic Medicine.
He formerly worked at the Hawkes-worth Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic in Hawkesworth Street, Ilkley, but is currently suspended, according to the HPC.
He is also known for working with top Australian women's squash player Carol Owens when she spent time in Ilkley.
He denies the allegations.
The HPC is an independent statutory health regulator established to protect the public against rogue health professionals.
If the allegations are judged to be well founded, Mr Dereix can be struck off the register, suspended for up to one year, be subject to conditions applied to how he practices, be under caution for one to five years or have no further action taken against him, according to the panel's decision. The hearing is expected to end tomorrow.
6:19pm Wednesday 7th May 2008
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