A Sydney dentist says he may have incidentally rubbed his crotch against patients while performing procedures in his clinic.
Bassem Magdy El-Badrawy Fouad agreed it was common sense not to touch the breasts of female patients during a procedure or deliberately press his crotch against clients.
He also understood the patients never consented to being exposed to the dentist’s thigh or crotch area when they consented to dental procedures being performed.
However, under questioning from crown prosecutor Daniel Noll, Fouad acknowledged he may have inadvertently pressed his genitals on the thigh, head or arms of patients while operating in his Mascot clinic.
‘Everything was covered,’ Fouad told the jury at his District Court trial on Thursday.
Bassem Magdy El-Badrawy Fouad (pictured at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney) acknowledged he may have inadvertently pressed his genitals on the thigh, head or arms of patients while operating in his Mascot clinic
The 55-year-old has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated sexual touching, indecent assault under authority, and intentionally sexually touching a child
Presented with diagrams showing the ‘up-to-date’ best practice positioning for dentists performing procedures, Fouad said they were guidelines.
‘There’s a significant distance between the head and what would be described as the crotch of the dentist,’ Mr Noll said.
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Fouad said the diagram presented ‘the basic, standard position’.
‘The dentist has to refine the position as per the treatment needed,’ he said.
It’s alleged Fouad would frequently press himself against his patients and would place his dentistry tools on the breasts of female patients.
The 55-year-old has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated sexual touching, indecent assault under authority, and intentionally sexually touching a child
He has told the jury his medical conditions – deep vein thrombosis and a fungal infection – forced him to sit in such a way to put him in closer proximity to his patients.
The jury heard Fouad sometimes worked alone, however it was not his preference.
Rather, he was often obliged to work without an assistant due to staffing issues with dental nurses.
The dentist operated at two clinics at Mascot where the alleged assaults against five complainants, who cannot be named, took place.
The trial before Judge Phillip Mahony continues.
