A sonographer who allegedly raped three patients during appointments at a Brisbane hospital has been granted bail.
Police allege the 58-year-old man sexually assaulted three women between August 2018 and June 2020 while performing separate examinations.
The man was arrested yesterday and charged with three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault after it was determined his conduct was allegedly "outside the parameters of normal scan procedures".
During a bail hearing in Brisbane this morning, his defence lawyer Glen Cranny told the court his client denied the allegations, and always acted appropriately within his training.
"He instructs he has always conducted his duties in the health industry in a manner consistent with his training and skill," he said.
The court heard the man was formerly a registered nurse before becoming a qualified sonographer who had worked in the Queensland Health system for almost 30 years, but had now "effectively retired".
It also heard, he had no other complaints of the same nature levelled against him prior to these charges, and no previous criminal history.
Police prosecutor Stephanie Randolph told the court they opposed his release, arguing the alleged offences were serious.
"The strength of evidence against the defendant is strong by the prosecution case," she said.
"The defendant was in a position of trust — he's betrayed that trust."
Magistrate Megan Power acknowledged the seriousness of the charges and granted him bail on several conditions, including that he surrender his passport and not contact the complainants.
The matter will return to court in October.
