The Queensland health ombudsman has suspended the registration of prominent surgeon Vahid Reza Adib, the partner of former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was charged last month with rape. The suspension, effective from 2 June 2026, prohibits Adib from practising as a medical practitioner for its duration.
The ombudsman confirmed on Tuesday that the immediate registration action was taken against Adib, and the suspension will remain in place until it is set aside by the ombudsman or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Adib, a bariatric surgeon who operated an obesity clinic at the private Wesley Hospital in Brisbane’s western suburbs, faces three counts of rape, two counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count of sexual assault, all stemming from an incident on 30 March. Police allege he sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s at a Goodwin Terrace residence.
According to police, detectives executed a crime scene warrant at the property on 30 April, seizing several items after extensive investigations. Adib’s website states he has performed over 20,000 operations and specialises in laparoscopic surgery and obesity management. He has been working in Brisbane since his surgical training in the mid-1990s.
His relationship with Palaszczuk, which began six years into her tenure as premier and at the height of her popularity, brought him into the public spotlight. On the day he was charged, Adib’s lawyers issued a statement declaring he would vigorously defend the charges. His lawyer, Dan Rogers, said Adib was shocked by the allegations and taking the matter very seriously, emphasising his presumption of innocence and his concern for his family and patients.
