A psychiatrist working in regional Western Australia who repeatedly sexually harassed a nurse has kept his job because his skills were in demand. The WA State Administrative Tribunal found that the psychiatrist had sent the nurse persistent romantic messages and poems despite her repeated rejections. Instead of losing his job, the psychiatrist’s medical registration was suspended for just three and a half months. The Medical Board of Australia declined to seek a longer suspension due to a shortage of psychiatrists in the region.

In this article, we look at the events of this WA State Administrative Tribunal workplace sexual harassment case: Medical Board of Australia and Rapuri [2026].

Case Summary: Medical Board of Australia and Rapuri [2026]

Jurisdiction: State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia.
Conduct found: Repeated workplace sexual harassment of a nurse. This included unwanted romantic messages and failure to comply with restrictions on contact with her.
Tribunal ruling: Professional misconduct found. The psychiatrist’s medical registration was suspended for three and a half months. A longer suspension was not sought due to the shortage of psychiatrists in the region.

Psychiatrist suspended for just 3.5 months for sexually harassing colleague

Dr. Panduranga Mallikarjun Rapuri was employed as a consultant psychiatrist at the WA Country Health Service. He was the only psychiatrist with responsibility for inpatient care in a regional area. Dr. Rapuri worked alongside a registered nurse, referred to during the workplace sexual harassment proceedings as Nurse A. Dr. Rapuri held a position of seniority over Nurse A. Between 29 December 2023 and 3 February 2024, Dr. Rapuri sent Nurse A a series of messages via WhatsApp and SMS.

These contained what the WA State Administrative Tribunal found were “persistent inappropriate” remarks and “unwanted romantic advances.” In one early exchange, Dr. Rapuri told Nurse A: “You really looked beautiful today in work… At the risk of sounding brash… you were poetry inspiring.” Nurse A responded that she did not want any “trouble” in the workplace. When Dr. Rapuri indicated he wanted “the whole 9 yards,” Nurse A replied that she did not want anything more than a professional relationship.

Dr. Rapuri continued sending messages, including poems. On 3 January 2024, he messaged Nurse A that he had “a temple built in my heart for you.” He also said that he was “deeply and utterly in love” with her, despite being married at the time. On 4 January 2024, Nurse A blocked Dr. Rapuri’s ability to contact her on WhatsApp.

‘This fool worships you like the princess you are:” Persisted with sexual harassment

After being blocked on other channels, Dr. Rapuri began contacting Nurse A via SMS instead. On 12 January 2024, he sent a lengthy message saying that he had “a temple built in my heart” for her. He said he was “utterly in love with you,” while noting that ‘I am ten years older than you.” Dr. Rapuri asked Nurse A whether that age gap “would be something you are against,” before emphasising that he had “never felt so deeply enamoured about a girl as I do about you.” He signed off the message by saying that if Nurse A ever needed company in the future, “please remember that this fool still worships you like the princess you are.”

Two days later, Dr. Rapuri messaged Nurse A about her blocking him on WhatsApp, saying it was “Not cool man.” Nurse A responded by saying she had blocked him “so you stop declaring your love for me.” Dr. Rapuri replied that his feelings were “true and not just poetry” and that he was “really struggling to hold back.” Nurse A simply replied with “Ok well you need to stop.”

‘The most perfectly beautiful woman’: Sent further texts despite promising not to

On 17 January, Dr. Rapuri texted Nurse A saying that after a month of “dopamine fuelled insomnia nights and serotonin driven days,” he came to a realisation. He said that he had been in a “self-induced delusion of an imaginary life” with Nurse A, who he referred to as an “angel.” He then said that he would not text her again and delete her number, signing off with. “Goodbye my green eyed princess.”

Despite saying this, Dr. Rapuri messaged Nurse A again on 1 February 2024. In a lengthy text, he wrote that he was “even more madly in love with you” and that his feelings “cannot be wrong.” He wrote that his “desperation” might one day push him to “walk up to you in the office, get down on one knee with a ring” and ask Nurse A to marry him. He called Nurse A “the most perfectly beautiful woman and a Godsend for me” and urged her for a “few minutes of face to face chat.” He closed by writing, “if there’s a word stronger than begging, then I am using that, requesting you speak with me please.”

‘This is harassment, you need to leave me alone:’ Nurse made workplace sexual harassment complaint

After not receiving a reply to his message, the next day Dr. Rapuri invited Nurse A to lunch, to which she replied declining the offer. On 3 February 2024, Dr. Rapuri sent a further message, telling Nurse A that “you’re the only one for me for sure” and that he would “be on my best behaviour till you say yes.” On the same day, Nurse A made a formal workplace sexual harassment complaint against Dr. Rapuri.

On 4 February 2024, the day after the complaint had been lodged, Dr. Rapuri sent her a further message. He wrote that “Elvis was only too right… Only fools rush in,” before saying that “I’m SO SORRY” for messaging her again. Dr. Rapuri went on to say that he wished Nurse A could help him. She replied saying “Pandu this is harassment you need to leave me alone.” She then blocked his number on SMS.

Doctor breached agreed restrictions on contact

On 5 February 2024, Dr. Rapuri met with his clinical director. He was told Nurse A felt uncomfortable due to his conduct, and agreed to a series of restrictions. This included that he would stop communicating with Nurse A other than about clinical issues. Any workplace interaction between the two had to take place in a team setting or public area.

Despite this, on 15 February 2024 Dr. Rapuri attempted to hand Nurse A a handwritten note at work, which she declined to take. Two days later, he sent her a Facebook friend request, which was also denied. He then messaged her via Facebook Messenger stating he could not help but “love you more (even if it means losing my AHPRA licence or being kicked out of Australia).” Dr. Rapuri implored Nurse A to “please please sit down for a little while” to chat about a possible relationship. He said Nurse A would “be right to think that I’d still harass you after you spoke with me and said no.” However, Dr. Rapuri said that this “can’t stop me loving you.”

On 19 February 2024, Dr. Rapuri approached another nurse, Nurse B, and asked her to speak on his behalf to an unnamed colleague who had blocked and reported him. Nurse B refused and reported the interaction to their employer. Dr. Rapuri was placed on suspension with pay on 8 March 2024. The next day, his employer found that his messages to Nurse A constituted workplace sexual harassment.

Why did the Tribunal find professional misconduct?

The Medical Board of Australia alleged there was proper cause for disciplinary action under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. On 21 May 2026, Dr. Rapuri and the Medical Board attended a mediation session with the WA State Administrative Tribunal. The parties reached an agreed settlement, which the Tribunal accepted. Its findings included:

Dr. Rapuri’s conduct towards Nurse A between 29 December 2023 and 17 February 2024 constituted professional misconduct.
He had repeatedly sexually harassed her, failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and failed to treat her with respect.
His conduct was “uninvited, unwelcome, and made Nurse A feel uncomfortable.”
Dr. Rapuri breached the Medical Board’s Code of Conduct, including requirements not to discriminate against, bully or sexually harass others.
Between 4 and 17 February 2024, Dr. Rapuri breached his employer’s restrictions by continuing to contact Nurse A.

Why did the Tribunal only suspend the doctor for 3.5 months?

Dr. Rapuri argued to the WA State Administrative Tribunal that there were numerous mitigating factors. He argued that these should be taken into account when considering his disciplinary outcome. The Medical Board did not contest these mitigating factors, which included:

Dr. Rapuri admitted he made “an error of judgement,” expressed remorse and apologised to both Nurse A and Nurse B.
He had reflected on his workplace sexual harassment via education, counselling and self-examination.
During the relevant time period, he had faced personal issues and stress.
Dr. Rapuri had already received a reprimand and had been transferred to another team. He was also required to be under supervision by a psychiatrist for a year.
He had been subject to limitations on his registration since June 2024.
He was described as “an experienced psychiatrist.” He lived and worked in a “designated area of need” where the “medical needs of the population are currently unmet.”
He was “the sole psychiatrist responsible” for the inpatient care of mental health patients in the region. Dr. Rapuri supervised two junior trainees and had “skills of value to the community.”

Ultimately, the Tribunal ordered that Dr. Rapuri be reprimanded, and that his registration be suspended from 25 May 2026 to 8 September 2026, a period of roughly three and a half months. The Medical Board indicated it would have sought a longer period of suspension had the aforementioned mitigating factors not been present. Following the suspension, Dr. Rapuri will have conditions imposed on his registration for a minimum of 12 months.

This will require him to complete at least six hours of one-on-one education on professional ethics, professional relationships and the impact of workplace sexual harassment. He will also need to undergo six months of mentoring focused on the same areas, and provide a reflective practice report addressing his learnings. Dr. Rapuri was also ordered to pay the Medical Board’s costs of the proceedings, fixed at $5,000.

Workplace sexual harassment FAQs

1. What can you do if a colleague keeps sending unwanted romantic or sexual texts?

If a coworker continues sending unwanted romantic or sexual messages after being asked to stop, you can report the conduct to your manager, HR department or workplace health and safety representative. Under Australian employment law, employers have a positive duty to prevent workplace sexual harassment and eliminate a hostile work environment. If internal reporting does not resolve the behaviour, you can lodge a claim with the Fair Work Commission or an anti-discrimination agency.

This persistent unwanted messaging was central in the WA State Administrative Tribunal case Medical Board of Australia and Rapuri [2026]. In that case, the practitioner continued sending unwanted romantic texts, social media requests and notes even after being told to stop and being blocked. The Tribunal found that this amounted to workplace sexual harassment. However, the practitioner kept his job. He had his medical registration suspended for around three and a half months, with a longer suspension not considered as his skills were needed in the regional area in which he worked.

2. Is asking a colleague out considered workplace sexual harassment?

Asking a colleague out on a date is not automatically workplace sexual harassment, provided it is respectful, consensual and not repeated after a refusal. However, it becomes unlawful sexual harassment if the approach is unwelcome and persistent. Also, when it occurs in a context where a reasonable person would anticipate the recipient feeling uncomfortable, intimidated or pressured.

The line between acceptable workplace interaction and unlawful conduct was demonstrated in the WA State Administrative Tribunal case Medical Board of Australia and Rapuri [2026]. In that case, a psychiatrist repeatedly sent a nurse unwanted messages declaring his love, writing poetry and proposing marriage. Even after the nurse blocked his number, made a formal complaint, and his employer placed strict contact restrictions on him, the doctor continued to pursue her. The Tribunal found that this conduct was consistent workplace sexual harassment.

Have you experienced sexual harassment at work?

If you have experienced sexual harassment at work, including unwanted advances, messages or contact from a colleague or supervisor, it is important to know that support and legal options are available to you. We at Sexual Harassment Australia help employees in every Australian state and territory pursue sexual harassment claims. With our over 40 years of combined experience, we can help you hold your harasser to account and get the compensation you deserve.

We work on a no win, no fee basis. And your first consultation with us is complimentary, private and confidential. Contact us today on 1800 333 666 to take the first step.

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