Palaszczuk’s surgeon partner suspended from practising

The medical registration of prominent surgeon Dr Reza Adib, partner of former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, has been suspended as he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault.

The Queensland Health Ombudsman issued the notice for the 65-year-old on Tuesday, saying it was effective immediately.

“The suspension of registration means that Vahid Reza Adib is prohibited from practising as a medical practitioner for the duration of the suspension,” it said.

Adib stands accused of detaining a woman against her will in his Gold Coast apartment on March 30 and allegedly raping and sexually assaulting her.

The charges, which were laid last month, include three counts of rape, two counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count of sexual assault.

The sexual assault charge states he allegedly “unlawfully and indecently assaulted [the woman], and the indecent assault included bringing into contact part of [the woman’s] genitalia with the mouth of Adib”, according to court documents.

The surgeon’s lawyer said he maintained his innocence, with the case due to return to court next month.

Adib, who specialises in obesity procedures, was regularly pictured with Palaszczuk at high-profile events, such as the Logies and movie premieres, after their relationship began in 2021.

The charges were laid while Palaszczuk was promoting her autobiography, The Politics of Being Me. She subsequently cancelled two book tour events as news of her partner’s case unfolded.

Adib, who established his own obesity clinic in Brisbane in 2004, was nominated as the co-chairman of the Wesley Hospital’s Centre of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery in 2017.

Uniting Care, which runs the hospital, told this masthead last month he was not currently accredited to perform operations at the Wesley.