A former Dunedin osteopath threatened to strangle a colleague until her ''eyes popped out'', the New Zealand Health Practitioners' Disciplinary Tribunal was told yesterday.
The incident was one of many charges of professional misconduct against Paul Edward Bolton by the Professional Conduct Committee of the New Zealand Osteopathic Council.
The allegations concern his treatment of several patients while working at Consultancy House Clinic in Dunedin, between January and May 2012.
The tribunal, sitting at Dunedin's Mercure Leisure Lodge, heard allegations Mr Bolton inserted acupuncture needles into a client, then left the client unattended for a long period without any means for the client to attract attention.
It was also alleged he deliberately positioned the treatment bed on which a female patient was lying so his crotch was pressed against her.
Other allegations include performing acupuncture and a cervical manipulation technique on a female client without her consent; failing to confirm a thorough case history of a patient, communicate a diagnosis or a plan of care; speaking excessively to his clients about personal affairs; frequently using swear words in front of staff and clients; and performing Western Medical Acupuncture (including electro-acupuncture) and related needling techniques without being permitted by his scope of practice.
It was alleged Mr Bolton also threatened to ''damage'' a fellow staff member and threatened to strangle another staff member ''slowly and watch her eyeballs pop out''.
Consultancy House Clinic owner Neil Patel told the hearing Mr Bolton came from the United Kingdom on the recommendation of physiotherapist and osteopath Jim Webb.
Mr Webb worked for Mr Patel at the time and said he and Mr Bolton had known each other for about 10 years. However, Mr Bolton's actions prompted Mr Webb to lay a formal complaint, and he is no longer friends with Mr Bolton.
Mr Patel said he received more verbal complaints in the first two months of Mr Bolton's arrival than he had received in the previous five years.
Mr Webb said he made the same mistakes time and again.
''Those mistakes were his swearing, being aggressive, being intimidating and not listening to his patients.''
Mr Bolton, who has since returned to the United Kingdom, did not attend the hearing and chose not to employ counsel.
The hearing was adjourned until today for closing statements and deliberation.
